Braelon Allen Leaves Wisconsin Football With Complicated Legacy

Wisconsin football running back Braelon Allen is headed to the NFL. On Tuesday afternoon, Allen announced his decision to declare for the NFL Draft via social media. Allen had a notable career in Madison, but did he leave something to be desired?

Braelon Allen Among Top Recruits in Wisconsin Football History

Allen arrived in Madison with incredible expectations. The Fond du Lac native remains one of the highest-rated prospects in program history. The only question mark was where on the football field he would play.

Sep 17, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Braelon Allen (0) carries the football during warmups prior to the game against the New Mexico State Aggies at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

It is hard to imagine a player with 646 career touches playing defense, but it nearly happened. Paul Chryst initially recruited the former four-star prospect to play linebacker or safety. In a different universe, maybe he ended up playing the dollar position in defensive coordinator Mike Tressel’s defense.

Regardless, the “only-17-years-old” Allen played running back after reclassifying to play early for Wisconsin football in 2021. Aided by some injuries in the running back room, the dismissal of Jalen Berger from the program, and Agent 0’s 600-pound squats, he ascended up the depth chart.

Braelon Allen’s Freshman Season Wowed Wisconsin Football Fans

If Wisconsin football fans know one thing, it is what great running backs look like. Running back prospects are measured against greatness in Madison. So when fans who watched the likes of Ron Dayne, Jonathan Taylor, Melvin Gordon, and John Clay are excited to watch a new kid, take notice.

Wisconsin Badgers running back Braelon Allen (0) and Wisconsin Badgers running back Chez Mellusi (1) have a laugh as part of Wisconsin Badgers football media day at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022.
Badgers Media Day 0853

Notice the country did. After averaging 6.8 yards on 186 carries as a 17-year-old, Allen was put on Heisman and Doak Walker Award watch lists. He earned all-Big Ten second-team honors in his first season and was expected to elevate Wisconsin football after a disappointing 9-4 season.

Allen and Clemson transfer Chez Mellusi established themselves as one of the best running back tandems in the country in 2021. Mellusi, who arrived in Madison as Jonathan Taylor had just departed for the NFL, made an immediate impact. Despite that, injuries to Mellusi down the season’s stretch made Allen the feature back.

Braelon Allen: Numbers Complicate Wisconsin Football RB’s Greatness

2021 was Allen’s best statistical season. He notched career highs in rushing yards, yards per rush, and rushing touchdowns. As a 17-year-old freshman, he finished seventh in the country in yards per rush. Are those career highs telling the whole story?

Nope.

This is why we watch the games. Injuries limited Allen during his final two seasons in Madison. If being susceptible to injury should be a knock on Allen’s legacy, how impressively he performed while injured must be considered, too. He always ran hard – giving everything he could to Wisconsin football.

Nov 25, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen (0) and teammates celebrate with the Paul Bunyan Football Trophy ceremonial axe to act out cutting down the goalposts after defeating the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Huntington Bank Stadium. Wisconsin won 28-14. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via USA TODAY NETWORK

This point is clear even if you only watched Allen’s final two games in Madison. Head coach Luke Fickell did not know if Allen would be healthy enough to play against Nebraska in the home finale. Agent 0 only rushed for 2.8 yards per carry, but he did so on a whopping 22 attempts—twenty-two attempts, despite being a game-time decision.

Braelon Allen Finished His Career With a Hallmark Performance

The young man who will finish his Wisconsin football career with the ninth-most rushing yards in program history had never defeated Minnesota before this past Saturday. At the end of the year, banged up by already logging 571 carries on the season, Allen delivered a victory.

So many great memories with so many great people. Love all my brothers for life. I can confidently say I gave my all, through the ups and downs, all I ever wanted was to win and put my best foot forward for my teammates every Saturday. There aren’t many things that I take more… pic.twitter.com/x1Yp7Hs5Km

— Braelon Allen (@BraelonAllen) November 28, 2023

With 165 yards on 26 carries, two touchdowns, and a swing of Paul Bunyan’s Axe, Allen left his mark in Madison. He delivered perhaps one of his best performances ever as a Badger. I will remember the two-play 54-yard touchdown drive started by a 50-yard Braelon Allen run (during which he broke three tackles) and capped off by a four-yard run by Allen for a long time. The drive, which gave Wisconsin the margin of victory, was the epitome of the toughness Allen exudes.

No, the numbers don’t lie. But, when it comes to Braelon Allen, they fail to tell the whole story. The recruiting rankings, absurd weight room numbers, and incredible freshman season set the expectations for Allen sky-high. UW’s Mount Rushmore of running backs is reserved for the elite of the elite. Although you will not find Allen there, you will find him beloved in the hearts of all those who watched him in Madison.

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