Wisconsin football has been a stable for top running backs since before Braelon Allen was born, so his journey to follow in the footsteps of greatness surprises even himself.
A year ago, Allen was a highly touted 16-year-old football recruit in Fond du Lac, Wis., thinking he would be playing high school football and not yet for the Badgers this season.
After deciding this summer to skip his senior year, the 6-2, 240-pound man child went in the coming months from a defensive recruit and special teams player to a rapid rise to stardom as Wisconsin's next standout tailback.
"I honestly didn't expect to do it," Allen told Wisconsin reporters after reaching the 1,000-yard milestone following a season-best 228 rushing yards and three touchdowns in a 35-28 win Saturday against Nebraska. "Being where I am right now is really cool."
Entering this Saturday's high-stakes trophy game against the Gophers (7-4), Allen is arguably the biggest name on Minnesota's defensive scouting report. Slowing him down could be a huge factor in reclaiming Paul Bunyan's Axe for the first time since 2018.
The Badgers (8-3) control their own destiny to win the Big Ten West Division title, but Allen's breakout season assured them this opportunity. Following an injury to starter Chez Mellusi earlier this month, Allen was thrust into a bigger role in Wisconsin's rushing attack.
Not many teenagers are ready for college sports, let alone such a big responsibility. Allen isn't your typical teenager. He was ready and is now second in the Big Ten with 1,062 yards rushing after seven straight 100-yard games on the ground this year, a Badgers freshman record.
"He doesn't look like he's 17 years old, that's for sure," Gophers coach P.J. Fleck said. "He's a very good tailback, already physically developed. He looks like he's 22, 23 years old. He plays like he's been there a long time."
