Braelon Allen Scouting Report

By: Michael Higgins

(Image courtesy of David Berding/Getty Images)

School: Wisconsin

Class: Junior

Position: RB

HT: 6’1

WT: 235 lbs

Sideline Prospect Ranking: #77

Background: Braelon Allen was a superb athlete in high school, playing both linebacker and running back. Not only did he play both sides of the ball, but he was a kick returner. 247 Sports had Allen listed as a linebacker recruit, but it wasn’t entirely decided as to which side of the ball he would play at the next level. He was named to the WFCA All-State Team in 2021. He performed well enough that he reclassified from 2022 to the 2021 class. Originally from Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, Allen played at the town’s high school. Allen committed to Wisconsin over the likes of Michigan, Notre Dame, and Michigan State.

College: As a freshman, filling in the big shoes of Jonathan Taylor, Allen became the workhorse back for the Badgers. His 2022 season was just the same. He has had back-to-back seasons with over 1,200 rushing yards. He was a Freshman All-American in 2021 and a consensus All-Big 10 Second Team nominee in 2022.

Strengths: Braelon Allen is a power back with a dense frame. He is a strong player and exerts all that strength into power with each step he takes. Braelon is a violent runner who can get between the tackles and make defenders pay for even attempting to bring him down. When Allen lowers his shoulder, he always powers through the chest of the defender and either knocks them to the ground or falls forward to pick up an extra yard or two. Allen can also be seen using a nasty stiff arm that sends guys to the ground with swiftness. When Braelon breaks into the open field, he is able to make himself a shifty, agile running back to make the second and third levels of the defense miss. Allen is also a solid contributor in the passing attack for Wisconsin. He is a safety net for the quarterback and excels when improvising to get open. His hands are consistent and he does a good job of looking the ball in before moving up the field.

Weaknesses: Allen is never going to beat a defense with speed, he doesn’t have that home run ability. He gets hawked down a lot by defensive backs after he breaks free. While he can be shifty and he can power through players between the tackles, Allen often gets grappled on by multiple defenders, which can often bring him down. While Braelon Allen has solid hands, he does not offer much in terms of yards after the catch. He is a last resort option in the flats if the quarterback needs to dump the ball off, but he is never going to be a big play threat as a receiver.

Scheme Fit: Gap Rushing Offense

Ideal Role: Workhorse RB

Best Team Fits: LAC, MIN, CIN

Player Comparison: Derrick Henry

Player Grade: 78.6