Deion Sanders found an answer to Colorado’s problems hiding in plain sight - USA Today

Colorado football coach Deion Sanders announced at his weekly news conference Nov. 3 that Alabama transfer Richard Young would start his second straight game for his team at running back Saturday at Arizona State.

That’s not shocking news after Young’s breakthrough performance last week in a 27-24 overtime win against Kansas State. But it does signal that Colorado finally might have found an answer to its struggles on offense this year —  a workhorse runner to take the load off of Colorado’s quarterback issues and help turn the season around for the Buffaloes (3-5).

It also signals that high-level talent on Colorado's roster sometimes hasn't emerged for whatever reason.

“We know we got talent on the roster,” Sanders said Tuesday.

Young, a fourth-year college player, had 24 carries for 120 yards and two touchdowns against the Wildcats after not getting more than eight carries in a game all season before that. It was the kind of display that raised a question: Why didn’t Colorado use him more before now?

Sanders said Young didn’t have a “pity party” about his lack of playing time.

“He could have, and he should have,” Sanders said.

Sanders then referenced characters from "The Three Stooges" to describe other Colorado running backs who didn’t gain as much traction.

“You’ve seen Moe, you know, Curly, Larry, who all in the backfield — not saying they 'The Three Stooges', but you know what I’m saying,” Sanders asked. “You seeing them multiple names (at running back). I can’t remember names to save my life. He hadn’t got his opportunity, a true opportunity, and he got it. And that’s the most touches he’s ever had in a college football game. So he proved that he’s more than worthy.”

Asked if Young showed something in practice last week to earn extended playing time, Sanders said he saw something in practice from Young “from the beginning.”

“Sooner or later you gotta say, ‘He’s in,’” Sanders said.

It’s not like Young’s talent was unknown. He’s from near Sanders’ hometown of Fort Myers, Fla., and was ranked as the No. 22 national recruit by ESPN in 2023. Coaching legend Nick Saban signed him at Alabama, where he got fewer carries all season in 2025 (23) than he did last week against Kansas State. He just never got much of a chance to get on a roll until then.

“The more carries that I was getting, the more hungry I was getting,” Young said Tuesday.

Young was only the second 100-yard rusher in a game in Sanders’ four seasons at Colorado, with the other coming from Micah Welch earlier this year in a 52-21 win against Weber State. Welch was injured recently, leading to Young’s emergence.

His production helped take the pressure off of Colorado quarterbacks Isaac Wilson, who threw seven interceptions in his three previous starts but didn’t throw any against Kansas State. Colorado was down to two quarterbacks after former starter Julian Lewis suffered a medical emergency last week. Sanders said Lewis is “doing well” but didn’t elaborate on his playing status.

Young’s breakout role also served as a reminder of the talent level of Colorado’s roster as speculation has swirled about Sanders’ job security amid a 3-5 start. Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham noted this week that Colorado has NFL talent on its roster.

“We know we got talent on the roster,” Sanders said. “We know we got talent in the coaching staff. So we’ve been knowing that. Thank God somebody else pointed that out. Maybe we’ll be respected a little more.”

Sanders is 19-26 in four seasons at Colorado — 4-8 in 2023, 9-4 in 2024 and 3-9 in 2025. He got a new five-year contract last year that made him the highest paid coach in the Big 12 at more than $10 million annually.

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

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