Those “factors” are what make them not happy. They may see something as hypocritical, restricting, boring or simply not self fulfilling.
I am not suggesting you are against college. Why not consider it as an option? It will surely keep him busy. Perhaps it will keep him out of trouble. What about a job? Something constructive, anything, is better than sleeping away the day. He might feel a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment and try to do everything to be as productive as he can (which might mean a better nights sleep for example). It might not be the dream or aspirations you had for him as a youngster, but it might be the best thing for him, where he is now.
I dont know why people become baalei teshuva, I have not conducted any studies (heck, I dont know why they go “off” to begin with if they are ffbs), but surely they feel some draw which is advantageous to the path they are on.