Former Wisconsin football running back Braelon Allen has been putting in some extra work in the weight room with one of the league’s most recognizable superstars ahead of the NFL Draft.
Allen has been working out alongside four-time Pro Bowl running back and two-time rushing yards leader Derrick Henry. Henry, a bruising 6-foot-3, 247-pound tailback who spent eight seasons with the Titans, is renowned for his imposing stature and punishing running style.
He inked a two-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens this past offseason worth $16 million with $9 million guaranteed.
Allen, who measures 6 feet 1 inch and weighs 235 pounds, has been compared to Henry in the past because of his style of play with the Wisconsin football team and their similar physical attributes.
Currently, MockDraftDatabase projects Allen as a third-round pick, but he could realistically be selected on either Day 2 or Day 3. There have been numerous rumblings suggesting that Allen may have received assurances from a couple of teams that he won’t slip outside the top 100 picks.
Allen had a so-so showing at the NFL Combine. But he took some heat for choosing not to run the 40-yard dash or participate in agility drills during the combine or even his pro day.
Instead, the Wisconsin football tailback concentrated on running routes, catching passes, and running-back-specific exercises. His decision reportedly stemmed from a lingering high ankle sprain he suffered last season, which caused him to miss two and a half games. Allen ultimately opted to rely on his game tape to speak for itself.
“Trying to get healthy, and everything kind of took longer than we had hoped for,” Allen told reporters. “I had kind of a short window to train, and I just didn’t feel comfortable with where I was at to put those numbers on paper.. not that they would have been bad, but they wouldn’t have been what I was hoping for or expecting.”
In 2023, Braelon Allen experienced a transition to a spread offense under Phil Longo for the first time. Despite the adjustment, he showcased impressive numbers for the Wisconsin football team as a junior, rushing for 984 yards and 12 touchdowns. Additionally, he caught 28 passes for 132 yards, accumulating a total of 1,116 yards from scrimmage. These performances earned him second-team All-Big Ten honors.
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