New York Jets rookie running back Braelon Allen was a star running back at Wisconsin but didn’t get a ton of pre-draft love, ultimately falling to Gang Green in the fourth round. Now that he’s emerged as one of the top rookie running backs of 2024, he’s reflecting on the pre-draft process and has some thoughts.
Earlier today, a Jets fan took to X and randomly asked how Allen fell to them in the fourth round following his back-to-back dominating performances against the Tennessee Titans and the New England Patriots. Allen was more than happy to answer the question for the fan. He took to X and indicated that he fell in the draft because he didn’t do most of the NFL Combine drills.
“Everyone wanted to see me run in my underwear to decide if I was a good football player,” Allen wrote.
Allen had been rock solid in three years as a starter for the Badgers. He had 3,494 yards and 35 touchdowns on the ground in 35 games – averaging nearly six yards per carry in the process.
But when the pre-draft process began, Allen infamously skipped most of the athletic testing at February’s combine, citing “lower body issues” that he sustained in his final year at Wisconsin. He skipped them at the Wisconsin pro day as well prior to the draft.
Poor Combine results or outright failing to participate in Combine drills often makes NFL teams nervous about a prospect.
31 teams missed out, and now the Jets have a bonafide 1-2 punch at running back.
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