A once promising RB prospect is on his way out of Tuscaloosa.
Redshirt sophomore Richard Young, who started Alabama's season opener against Florida State with Jam Miller out with an injury, has decided to enter the Transfer Portal, according to multiple reports:
NEW: Alabama RB Richard Young plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, @PeteNakos reports. https://t.co/R84agV1eke pic.twitter.com/emLzSdcVz7
— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal) January 2, 2026
Richard Young leaving Alabama via the Transfer Portal
The move comes as little surprise following a season in which Young fell out of the running back rotation. This move has been expected for quite some time.
Young started the season-opener, but managed just 26 yards on nine carries. He saw his role lessen the next two weeks against UL Monroe (six carries) and Wisconsin (four carries), before riding the bench for most of the rest of the season. Young didn't receive another carry following the Wisconsin matchup until garbage time against Eastern Illinois.
For the season, Young managed just 64 yards on 23 carries. In his three seasons in Tuscaloosa, Young produced just 234 rushing yards on 59 attempts with five touchdowns.
Young was once a promising RB recruit out of high school and will have plenty of suitors in the Transfer Portal. Young arrived at Alabama in the class of 2023 and was the No. 4 RB recruit in the country, per the 247 Composite.
Young's departure is the second of Alabama's impressive two-man haul of running backs in the 2023 class, which greatly contributed to the downfall of the position for the Crimson Tide the last couple of years.
Former 5-star RB Justice Haynes left Alabama via the portal last offseason and landed at Michigan. Haynes was in the midst of an impressive season for the Wolverines, putting up 857 yards on 7.1 yards per carry before being lost for the season with an injury in late October.
Kalen DeBoer has little choice but to overhaul Alabama's unimpressive RB room. The Crimson Tide finished the season ranked 125th in the country in rushing yards per game, and while the offensive line issues contributed to that greatly, Alabama didn't have a difference-maker in the room.
Young was given the opportunity to be the guy early in the season, but couldn't find his footing. From there, his decision to enter the Transfer Portal became inevitable.