Braelon Allen: Wisconsin’s Next Generational Running Back Prospect?
We’re going to have a crop of running backs entering the league soon that are going to take your breath away. Ohio State’s Treyveon Henderson lit the world on fire as a true freshman. There just happens to be another stud running back in the Big 10 that probably thinks he’s better. Can Braelon Allen turn into the next great Wisconsin running back? We’re about to find out.
Allen, 18, might be the most intriguing running back in the country. Rushing for 1,268 yards (6.8 per) and 12 touchdowns as a true freshman playing the entire season as a 17-year-old probably matters… Allen was so good that he put Chez Mellusi in his back pocket by about Week 4. Keep in mind, Mellusi was a four star Clemson transfer part of the 2018 recruiting class. There is a real chance this Braelon Allen is special.
Not just special, maybe Wisconsin’s best running back prospect ever. The real question is, will Allen turn out to just be another Leonard Fournette where he tapped out as a college freshman because he was just naturally bigger and stronger than everyone his age for whatever reason. OR is Allen the next iteration of Derrick Henry but better?
Allen stacks up physically. That isn’t going to be a problem. He’s almost going to be too big if he puts on any weight. The Badgers RB checks in at 6-foot-2, 240, and fast. Good luck tackling the guy and good luck catching him.
The thing about Allen is that he represents an important part of the sport right now. Is college football going to keep producing athletes like this? It feels like every year college football is producing these monster wide receivers that are changing the game. We’re not getting any of those running backs lately. We didn’t even get a RB in the first round this year.
Allen is built and plays like an old school running back. You know, the Earl Campbell’s and Herschel Walker’s of the world. Allen is a truck. That dude is running you over. Allen has a chance to truly bring the running back position back. A true horse that probably could have been a star linebacker but feels better as a running back instead.
I wasn’t sure if we were getting another guy like that again. The league is trending Austin Ekeler and a lot of them are entering the league. Isn’t that the hope for someone like a James Cook to use as an example.
Maybe Wisconsin will just always have one of these guys. Ron Dayne, Montee Ball, James White, Melvin Gordon, etc. This University has a proven track record for developing ball carriers. More recently the ones coming into the league are pretty darn good, hey. Jonathan Taylor is becoming a star. Allen is probably next.
Is the running back position dead? Maybe, maybe not. All I know is we have two really good young studs in Big 10. There’s a chance we get some fireworks this college football season. The Allen vs Henderson rivalry has a chance to be Dobbins vs Taylor on crack. We’re all ready for it.
