2023 RB Richard Young (6-0 190) of Lehigh Acres, FL is ranked as the No. 1 running back in his class with close to 40 offers heading into his junior year of high school. Young visited Clemson on June 25th and the 5-star running back left town with an offer from head coach Dabo Swinney.
Young used the month of June to visit many of the major programs that have offered, including Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, Alabama, and Florida State. The 5-star prospect will be a priority for all of the elite programs in the country with Clemson firmly in the mix following his trip to the Upstate last month.
Young’s recruitment has been primarily handled by running backs coach CJ Spiller, but his visit to Clemson came at a time when Spiller was out of town. So he was given the tour of Clemson by offensive coordinator Tony Elliott, and the running back left impressed by the Clemson culture.
“Coach Spiller didn’t come because he was on vacation with family, but I called him after the visit,” Young says. “Coach Elliott took me around and there were several other coaches there too. What stood out to me the most was the family part, and the education was really on point. That’s what really stood out to me.”
Young learned of the Clemson offer from Swinney, who told him that he believes he can be a major piece to the Clemson program in the future.
“Coach Dabo FaceTimed me before I was doing my photoshoot,” according to Young. “He first talked about my grades and how impressed he was because of that. He was telling me how they don’t just give out offers to just anyone and he believed that I can be the biggest part of the team if I come there because I’m crazy good. They definitely will be in my top schools.”
With all of the country’s elite programs in play for Young’s services, he says the staff in which he’s most comfortable will have the edge during his recruitment.
“My big factor in a school will be relationships. Not only with me, but with my parents,” Young explained. “And the environment and the coaches. And also, the offensive linemen and the running style, and if the plays they run fit me the best.”
Young made the trip to Clemson with his uncle, who was equally impressed with the Tigers’ program. And a small group of favorites have started to emerge from the huge pile of national offers.
“Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, and others,” the Florida native stated. “My uncle loved everything about Clemson, and he definitely loved the vibe and the coaches there.”
Young is currently ranked as the No. 17 player overall in the 247Sports Composite rankings for the ’23 class. Last season in 9 games, Young rushed for 980 yards and 8 touchdowns. In 2019 he rushed for 854 yards and 6 touchdowns.
