With the No. 134 overall pick in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the New York Jets drafted running back Braelon Allen out of Wisconsin. The rookie has made an immediate impact in New York’s offense, so let’s break down everything you need to know about Allen.
How Tall Is Braelon Allen?
Allen is an imposing 6’1” running back who falls into the 89th percentile compared to his positional counterparts. Allen’s height is well above the normal threshold for an NFL back, but his hand size at 9′ 1/4” hands (49th percentile) and arm length of 31 1/4” (58th percentile) both come in around the middle of the pack at the position.
How Much Does Allen Weigh?
Allen tipped the scales at 235 pounds at the NFL Combine, which puts him in the 94th percentile at his position. He did not perform more than a handful of tests at the Combine, but he did put up 26 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press. With his strength and imposing frame, Allen is a strong, powerful runner who is very difficult to bring down.
How Old Is Allen?
Born on Jan. 20, 2004, Allen is only 20 years old. He’s currently the youngest player in the NFL. In fact, according to ESPN Stats and Info, he became the third-youngest player to be drafted into the league since 2000.
Why is Allen so much younger than his peers? Well, he reclassified to the 2021 recruiting class, which allowed him to play college football earlier than most players. As a true freshman, Allen was a starter at just 17 years old, although you never would have guessed his age watching him play.
What School Did Allen Go To?
After graduating a year early from Fond du Lac High School, Allen joined the Wisconsin Badgers ahead of the 2021 college football season. He spent all three years of his collegiate career at Wisconsin before declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft.
Revisiting Allen’s College Career
As a true freshman at Wisconsin, Allen started 12 games at just 17 years old. He totaled 1,268 yards and 12 touchdowns on 186 carries, averaging almost seven yards per attempt.
In 2022, he ran for 1,242 yards and 11 touchdowns on 230 carries but saw his yards per carry drop from 6.8 to 5.4 in his sophomore season.
#Wisconsin RB Braelon Allen (6-2, 235)
Big, moderate tempo runner with good feet and cutback vision. Will play the entire 2023 season as a draft-eligible 19-year old prospect. pic.twitter.com/kS15N6OvSq
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) June 12, 2023
While his 2023 campaign was less prolific since he missed time due to injuries, he still put up solid numbers, totaling 984 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 181 carries.
After just three years with the Badgers, Allen already ranked ninth all-time on Wisconsin’s career rushing yardage list among former Badger greats like Jonathan Taylor, Montee Ball, Melvin Gordon, and Ron Dayne.
Allen’s 40-Yard Dash Time
Interestingly, Allen decided not to run the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine or Wisconsin’s pro day. This ultimately hurt his draft stock and contributed to him slipping to the fourth round despite a productive collegiate career and ridiculous upside.
Everyone wanted to see me run in my underwear to decide if I was a good football player https://t.co/npblJ6ykjf
— Braelon Allen (@BraelonAllen) September 20, 2024
Allen has admitted as much.
When a fan was recently questioned how Allen could have fallen so far in the NFL Draft, the Jets running back responded: “Everyone wanted to see me run in my underwear to decide if I was a good football player”
