Former Wisconsin Badgers running back Braelon Allen will be looking to turn heads during his rookie season in the NFL. Allen was a fourth-round selection (134th overall) in the 2024 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. A lot of Packers fans wanted to see the team draft Braleon Allen, but they selected Marshawn Lloyd from USC in the third round instead.
Allen was the primary back for the Badgers last season. Wisconsin is known for getting running backs drafted into the NFL. In 11 games last season in college, he rushed for 984 yards on 181 carries and 12 touchdowns, along with averaging 5.4 yards per carry. Braelon Allen also caught 28 passes for 132 yards receiving and zero touchdowns, along with averaging 4.7 yards per reception.
This year, the former Badgers running back is listed second on the Jets depth chart right behind Breece Hall. Allen is listed ahead of Isaiah Davis and Israel Abanikanda on the depth chart. The New York Jets coaching staff has been impressed with Allen this offseason.
NFL Analyst Thinks That Former Wisconsin Badgers Running Back Braleon Allen Is An Under-the-Radar Rookie To Watch For On the New York Jets
Pro Football Network’s Dallas Robinson listed an under-the-radar rookie for each NFL team entering the 2024 NFL season. He thinks that the former Badgers running back is going to potentially make an impact this season for the Jets. Robinson said about Allen:
“Although Breece Hall should dominate touches out of the Jets’ backfield, someone has to take on the 300+ snaps that Dalvin Cook and Michael Carter played for New York in 2023.
Braelon Allen is competing with fifth-round rookie Isaiah Davis and holdover Israel Abanikanda for action behind Hall, but we’re betting on the Wisconsin product seeing the most time of Gang Green’s reserve options.
“He’s heavy. Very smart, fluid, good out of the backfield, really good in pass protection already for a rookie,” Jets head coach Robert Saleh said last week. “Braelon’s really smooth out of the backfield with his hands. So, he’s got a chance, he’s just gotta keep working.”
Breece Hall is no doubt going to be a workhorse for the New York Jets in the backfield, but they need someone else to carry the football. Braelon Allen is used to working with a two-running back system when he was with the Wisconsin Badgers. Allen could be a sleeper of a running back as a rookie.
If the Jets want to be successful this season, Hall and Allen will need to take pressure off of quarterback Aaron Rodgers. New York has the talent to make the playoffs. Breece Hall has been banged up in the past so Braelon Allen could start for them at some point this season if it happens.
