Oregon locks in official visit from one of best running backs in 2023 class
One of the country’s very best in the Class of 2023 will be in Eugene soon.
Richard Young, a 5-star running back from Florida, will take an official visit to see the Ducks on June 24, a weekend that’s shaping up to be a potentially big one. Oregon is also scheduled to host 5-star 2023 athlete Samuel M’Pemba that weekend as well.
I will be taking my Fifth OV to Oregon … June 24th #Goducks🦆
— Richard Young (@richardyoung239) May 25, 2022
The Lehigh Senior product ranks as the No. 2 back in his class and the 19th overall prospect, per the 247 Composite. He’s also scheduled to take official visits to Oklahoma, Alabama, Notre Dame, and Georgia before heading west to visit the Ducks.
Getting the last visit could bode well for Oregon, which continues to recruit the SEC footprint well.
The Ducks landed 4-star Mississippi back Dante Dowdell earlier this month but clearly aren’t done adding talent to the room. Young would provide one of the gems of the class, should he like what the Ducks have to offer.
As a junior this past fall, he ran for 1,755 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns while averaging 9 yards per carry. For his career so far, Young has run for more than 3,500 yards and 33 touchdowns while boasting a career per-carry average of 8.8 yards.
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound back also runs track. He owns verified times of 10.81 in the 100-meter and 22.01 in the 200m.
Andrew Ivins, 247’s recruiting analyst in the Southeast region, had this to say of Young’s game:
“One of the most coveted prospects to come out of Southwest Florida in recent memory. A one-cut-and-go type of running back that’s powerful enough to get it done in-between the tackles. Excellent vision and overall feel for the position allows him to get up field in a hurry and attack holes. Outstanding contact balance combined with an effective stiff arm makes it extremely difficult for high school defenders to bring him to the ground. Has experience working out of single back, shotgun and pistol formations. Limited context when it comes to pass blocking, but should be able to chip away at college-sized defensive linemen given his size and physical nature. Track background shows up on Friday nights as he’s consistently pulling away from defenses. Catches the ball well and should be able to move the chains via the screen game, if those type of plays are on the call sheet. Wear and tear not much of a concern at this stage in his development as he’s averaged only 12 carries a game his first two years of high school. Likely to emerge as an impact player for a Top 25 program given foot speed and ability to shed would-be tacklers. Will be on the radar of NFL scouts one day if everything comes together.
You can view his highlight tape below, via Hudl: