Allen will forego his last year of college eligibility
Syracuse Orange running back announced on Thursday afternoon that he is declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft. The junior from Millville, New Jersey will forego his final year of college eligibility.
1Love pic.twitter.com/eMscQo3Gs2
— LeQuint Allen Jr (@JrLequint) January 2, 2025
Allen finishes his Syracuse career with 514 carries, 2,359 rushing yards and 26 rushing touchdowns. He also recorded 119 receptions for 848 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
Allen was a second-team All-ACC selection in 2023, his first season as a starter. Under Fran Brown and Jeff Nixon in 2024, Allen eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards for a second straight season. His 16 rushing touchdowns in 2024 led the ACC.
Allen came to Syracuse from New Jersey after being named the Gatorade Player of the Year for football in the state. He’ll look to follow in the footsteps of the running back he backed up during his freshman year in college in Sean Tucker.
Tucker went undrafted but now sees more playing time for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has 48 carries for 292 yards and two touchdowns this season.
Allen will look to be selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, which will take place at Lambeau Field in Green Bay starting on April 24. Fellow Orange teammates Jackson Meeks and Fadil Diggs have already declared for the draft. Unlike Allen, both were out of college eligibility.
The Orange still have options in the running back room to replace Allen. His primary backup, Will Nixon, only played in three games before missing the rest of the season due to injury. He had 19 carries for 76 rushing yards and four catches for 44 receiving yards.
The other Orange running back that will fight for Allen’s starting spot is Yasin Willis. He took over primary backup running back duties after Nixon’s injury. Willis rushed 36 times for 130 yards and a touchdown. He also caught eight passes for 36 yards. Willis also took over kickoff return duties later in the season, returning 10 kicks.
Allen looks to be the 23rd running back in Syracuse history to be drafted. The last Orange running back selected in the draft was Delone Carter in 2011 when he went in the fourth round to the Indianapolis Colts.