KANSAS CITY, MO. — Selvin Young won’t quit running.
The unknown and unloved running back scored a touchdown and rushed for more than 100 yards against the Chiefs on Sunday afternoon. Those were the 18th and 19th of the 35 goals he set to paper for this season.
The Broncos rookie finished with 20 runs – one for each of the elementary, junior high and high schools he attended. And he had a day to remember for all the days he wants to forget.
Young’s 20-yard touchdown run in the third quarter put the Broncos ahead for good, and his 11-yard run in the fourth quarter put him in the team’s record book forever. He has become the 30th Broncos back to rush for at least 100 yards in a game. He joins Terrell Davis, Floyd Little, Otis Armstrong, Billy Joe, Tony Dorsett, Clinton Portis and Travis Henry.
Young has replaced Henry as the Broncos’ starting running back. And with 331 yards gained so far and seven games remaining, Young might have a (long) shot at 1,000 yards.
“My 35th goal is to complete a full season in professional football,” Young said Sunday. “I’ve worked so hard and long to get to this point, and I don’t want to never, ever let go of this feeling. I am blessed.”
The 24-year-old Young understands he’s lucky to be here – “in this environment (Arrowhead Stadium) … with a lot of tradition” – and lucky to be anywhere.
As a kid he ran the wrong way – with a bad bunch in Houston. Four of his fellow gang members are in prison for life on a murder conviction, three others were killed over a game of craps and another committed suicide. Young and one other friend got out of the gang in time and went on to play football. Young was shuffled about – “19 schools” and as many homes – before finding a message on a blackboard in a summer school classroom: “People may doubt what you say, but they’ll believe what you do.” His life was changed.
Young graduated from Jersey Village High School, where he had become one of the top running back recruits in Texas. He seriously considered the University of Colorado.
“I visited (Boulder in 2001) on the day Colorado blew out Nebraska (62-36), and I saw all those players celebrate on the field, and I really wanted to be a part of it. I wanted to play for (former Buffs running back, then assistant coach) Eric Bieniemy.” But, ultimately, Young decided to stay home and go to the University of Texas.
As a freshman, he backed up Cedric Benson, but then Young suffered a severe injury, shattering his right ankle and most of his college career. He did start in the 2005 season, and Young’s block set free his roommate – who also was named Young (Vince) – on a touchdown dash that won the national title.
Young became an honor student at Texas and earned his degree in liberal arts, but he wasn’t an All-American and sat by on draft weekend in April when seven of his teammates were selected.
The Broncos signed Young as a low-priced, low-risk free agent. They had discovered unpolished diamonds in the weeds before.
Young, without an injury for the first time since high school, led the Broncos in rushing (167 yards) in the preseason and was kept as Henry’s backup.
Now, with Henry hurt, Young is No. 1.
“Before the game, if you would have gotten a close-up of me, I had tears coming out of my eyes,” Young said. “There had been so much dreaming, wishing and working hard, and it’s incredible to be in this opportunity now.
“I got my mind set on trying to help (the Broncos) win.”
On his first carry of the opening quarter, Young twisted and turned for 34 yards. On the Broncos’ first possession of the third quarter, after an interception, Young snaked 8 yards on first down, 3 on second, then the final 20 for a touchdown that gave Denver a 13-8 lead.
“My whole life I never just wanted to have a breakaway and just run it forward and then walk off. It was fun to have a little contact and get knocked in,” he said.
His first TD “was everything I thought it would be.”
In the fourth quarter, Young surpassed 100 yards … briefly. He lost a yard, then 4 on his next two attempts, and dropped back below 100.
With 6:16 remaining, Young stormed around the right side and, admitted later, “I had sort of figured in my mind that I needed a good gain to get over 100.” He got 11 yards – and was taken out. Young “played hard and probably is a little tired,” coach Mike Shanahan said. “He came in with a lot of pressure on him, and he reacted well.”
Young’s high-yardage mark as a collegian was 102.
“Whatever comes now I’m ready for it,” he said.
Young is running toward all his goals. Soon, he’ll have to make another list.
Woody Paige: 303-954-1095 or wpaige@denverpost.com
