After the New York Jets selected running back Braelon Allen in the fourth-round, they did not quite expect his transition to be so smooth.
Allen, a former three-year standout with the Wisconsin Badgers, made 35 appearances and 24 starts in Madison before entering the NFL Draft. The running back was considered to be one of the better prospects at the position in the draft, but fell to the fourth-round due to injury concerns and other physical issues. Despite this, Allen has taken training camp in stride and continues to impress the Jets staff throughout camp with his performances.
New York Jets Rookie Running Back Braelon Allen Putting Together Impressive Performances
During the most recent NFL Draft, the Jets selected running back Braelon Allen altering viewing his college football tape. Allen, a Wisconsin native, spent three seasons as a Badger before entering the NFL with hopes of converting his collegiate success into professional success.
At just 20-years old, Allen is the youngest player to ever step foot on the field for the Jets, but will not let age stop him. The Jets running back is determined to become a pivotal piece of the offense and has all the tools necessary to do so. Between his physicality, speed, and football IQ, Allen is a tough player to beat in terms of all-around abilities on the field.
Allen was a three-time All-Big Ten Conference second team member and a Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Finalist in 2021.
Can Allen Make an Impact For the Jets in a Deep Running Back Room?
While Allen may not be the feature back for the Jets, that does not mean the running back cannot make an impact on the field this upcoming season. Allen is used to taking the bulk of the carries and working the ball as much as he can. This season will certainly be a change of pace for the running back, but less touches could allow for Allen to stay healthier throughout the year.
Last season, Allen suffered an ankle injury that seemed to plague the running back for sometime as he played through it. Allen struggled to reach top speed and struggled to juke past defenders as well which factored into his eventual draft slide.
The Jets, however, are not worried about the health of Allen and judging by his recent performances in camp, the running back seems to be back to normal. Allen currently is slated to backup starting running back Breece Hall and offers a different look on the field compared to Hall. The running back could takeover the power-back role and excel in said role given his strength and size.
What Can Allen Offer New York on the Gridiron Moving Forward?
Braelon Allen is a dynamic running back as previously mentioned, and when fully unleashed on the field, Allen is able to make a tremendous impact. Allen recorded 3494 rushing yards, 35 rushing touchdowns, and an average of 99.8 rushing yards per game across his three-year collegiate career. The running back finished ninth on the all-time rushing list for the Wisconsin Badgers.
To start his career, Allen had not been much of a receiving back and it was part of his game that he had not worked on. However, after the hire of Offensive Coordinator Phil Longo and the introduction of the ‘Air Raid’ offense, Allen began to improve that part of his game last season.
The running back finished the year with 28 receptions for 131 yards, which happened to be greater than the amount of receptions and yards the running back had the previous two seasons combined.
While the Jets may not need Allen to catch passes, the development in this category marks Allen as a do-it-all kind of running back. Allen can run through, run past, or even jump over defenders if they are not prepared to take down the rusher.
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