Braelon Allen claims to be the best running back in the nation

As all Wisconsin Badgers fans know by now, Braelon Allen is considered to be one of the best running backs in the country.

After the 2022 season wrapped up — a year in which Allen rushed for over 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns — the Badgers’ star running back has high hopes for his 2023 campaign. Allen, who will be a junior this fall, claims that he feels like the best running back in the sport of college football.

Braelon Allen feels like the top running back in the sport

After his incredible sophomore season wrapped up, Braelon Allen sat down with Pro Football Focus for an exclusive interview. There, he listed some massive expectations for 2023, which include being the best running back in the nation and going pro after just three seasons in Maddison.

“I feel like I’m absolutely the best running back in the country heading into next season,” Allen told Max Chadwick of PFF. “The ideal plan is for me to have a great year and declare for the draft. The main goal, though, is to win a Big Ten title and a national championship. Once we start playing, I think we’ll realize that those goals are within reach.”

On Wednesday, On3 Sports released their top-10 running backs list ahead of the 2023 season. On it were five Big Ten standouts: Blake Corum (No. 1/Michigan), Nick Singleton (No. 3/Penn State), Miyan Williams (No. 6/Ohio State), Treveyon Henderson (No. 7/ Ohio State), Donovan Edwards (No. 8/Michigan), and Braelon Allen (No. 10/Wisconsin). While being a top-10 running back is great, Allen is ranked as the 5th-best in the Big Ten and nine spots below where he thinks he should be nationally.

The Top 10 College Football Running Backs heading into the 2023 season👀https://t.co/O7f2PIEJ17 pic.twitter.com/RnTn3kZu9D

— On3 (@On3sports) February 22, 2023

Allen gearing up for monster junior season

So far during his college career with the Wisconsin Badgers, rising junior Braelon Allen has accomplished quite a bit. Allen has rushed for over 2,500 yards and 23 touchdowns during his two seasons in Madison. He has also earned All-Big Ten honors twice, was a Walter Camp Freshman All-American in 2021, and earned offensive MVP in the Badgers’ 24-17 victory over Oklahoma State in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl last season. This year, he could see his best season in the ‘Flying W’ yet under new head coach Luke Fickell.

Wisconsin is bringing a new system and an explosive offensive play-caller to Maddison — it will be a change for Allen & Co., though one that should benefit the Badgers in the long-run. Here is what Allen has to say about his new head coach:

“Just from a few conversations with Coach Fickell, I could tell that he was a guy I wanted to play for,” Allen said. “I knew right away that he’s a great leader. He’s a player’s coach and he’s a winner. All of the qualities that you could want in a head coach, he has.”

And what Allen thinks of his new offensive coordinator, Phil Longo, and his system:

“Heavy boxes definitely make it more difficult,” Allen said. “There are eight, nine guys in the box, and you only have five or six blockers. You usually have to make two or more guys miss tackles every time. That gets hard to do in the Big Ten. That’s why I’m very excited to play in Coach Longo’s offense. There will definitely be more lanes to run through.”

All said and done, the 2023 season could see some huge things from the Wisconsin Badgers and their star running back. Wisconsin football will kick off its new season on September 2nd against the University of Buffalo (MAC) at home.

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