There was a time when you couldn’t fathom a top high school prospect visiting, let alone signing with an HBCU program over a Power 5 program. Well, during the early signing period that changed when Jackson State flipped No. 1 overall recruit Travis Hunter, a long-standing Florida State recruit.
Coach Deion Sanders straight up punked the big boys on the recruiting circuit. Now we have Richard Young, the top running back in the 2023 class and the No. 16 overall recruit, planning an official visit to FAMU.
BOY BOY BOY JUNIOR SEASON HIGHLIGHTS!!!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥https://t.co/6BqT4Vi6bA
— Richard Young (@richardyoung239) November 29, 2021
BOY BOY BOY JUNIOR SEASON HIGHLIGHTS!!!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥https://t.co/6BqT4Vi6bA
— Richard Young (@richardyoung239) November 29, 2021
When schools like Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson, LSU, and Georgia pursue a prospect, it’s expected that the athlete will choose one of those football factories.
But don’t tell that to coach Willie Simmons at Florida A&M, Coach Prime at Jackson State or coach Sam Washington at North Carolina A&T.
They firmly believe anything can happen after what the aforementioned Hunter decided to do. In years past, there was no way FAMU would have even offered such an elite talent. With the tides changing in college football, all three powerhouse HBCU programs have offered Young, with realistic hopes of having him join the SWAC or MEAC.
5-star RB Richard Young is planning to visit Florida A&M at some point over the next few months. More on one of the Sunshine State’s top 2023s: https://t.co/G9wGzJfQJO pic.twitter.com/hLg8kc8QVD
— Andrew Ivins (@Andrew_Ivins) December 27, 2021
Young’s head coach at Lehigh High School, James Chaney spoke at the press conference.
“I’ve been here seven years and we haven’t gotten much traffic. I really think that HBCUs in my area could do a better job of coming down and farming the area. There are a lot of unranked two and three-star players that could help these programs.”
1 More Ride !!! pic.twitter.com/3XEy8J5AoK
— Richard Young (@richardyoung239) December 4, 2021
It remains to be seen if he’ll take official visits to Jackson State and N.C. A&T but the offers are there if he wants to.
Landscape Is Changing On The Recruiting Homefront: HBCUs Now Have A Shot To Land Top Recruits
With leaders like Sanders, Simmons and Washington at the helm, plus NIL deals in effect, it now makes it possible and believable that the top athletes could actually choose an HBCU over an Alabama or other Power 5 “blue bloods.”
What once seemed impossible is now highly plausible in many instances, and again it begins with those HBCUs extending the offer and showing interest in the kid.
Yes they may not have the resources that the Power 5s have, but they still must extend the offer and see where it goes. That’s what Coach Prime did with Travis Hunter, and looked how that worked out for the Pro Football Hall of Famer and his budding program.
Elite 2023 RB Richard Young here at the @FBUAllAmerican game. https://t.co/E7A8IfFbV2 pic.twitter.com/kHE95SNQ6i
— ChadSimmons (@ChadSimmons_) December 20, 2021
Richard Young is the next to talk about doing something different. Blazing a new trail for Black athletes and HBCU schools. Either way, it’s another watershed moment. And the HBCU sports community hopes that it’s just the beginning.
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