LeQuint Allen was able to etch his name into the Syracuse record books by the time his career there had come to an end. Now, he’s looking forward to getting into even more record books, at the next level this time. With his name in the NFL draft, there should be many teams inquiring about selecting him very soon.
Height: 6 ft – 0 in
Weight: 207 lb
Age: 20
Position: Running Back
College: Syracuse
College Career Summary:
LeQuint Allen started off slowly with Syracuse, not making his first career start until the end of his freshman season in the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl. This wasn’t a game that he performed poorly in either, with him rushing for 94 yards and bringing in 11 receptions for 60 more yards. By the end of his freshman season, he racked up just under 300 total rushing yards and built some solid momentum for himself heading into his sophomore campaign. Speaking of that campaign, it started horribly. Not because of his on-field play, but because of situations off of it. Before the year began, he got into a fight on the school campus, coming to assist a fellow teammate of his. Allen got charged with third-degree assault by the end of it, and the school suspended him for the entire 2023 season as a punishment. Allen later tried to sue the university for the suspension and hoped that he could turn it around. The two parties went back and forth before reaching an agreement to allow Allen to play football again in 2023. With all of that in the rearview mirror, he rushed for over 1,000 yards and got named to the Second Team All-ACC squad. Then, as a full-time starter in 2024, he became the enations leading pass catcher among running backs, rushing for over 1,000 yards once more as his touchdown number practically doubled from the rest of his career.
2024 Season
Games Played: 13
Yards: 1,021 rushing, 521 receiving
Touchdowns: 16 rushing, four receiving
Career Stats:
- 34 games played
- 2,359 rushing yards
- 32 total touchdowns
- 514 rush attempts
- 119 receptions
Passing/Rushing/Receiving/Defensive Metrics:
- 2 yards per carry throughout his career
- 8 yards per reception throughout his career
- 848 career receiving yards
Strengths:
- Elite receiving production out of the backfield
- Advanced pass protection awareness
- Phenomenal ball security, one fumble in 514 carries
- Great, natural receiving hands that can adjust to any throw
- Has thrived in both zone and gap systems
- Very lethal when entering into the red zone
Weaknesses:
- Limited special teams experience
- Struggles when opponents stack the box
- Speed could appear limited at times
- Durability concerns regarding his frame
High Pressure Situations/Clutch Gene:
Given an opportunity to start in the Pinstripe Bowl as a freshman, he didn’t hesitate to make a name for himself. He rushed for 94 yards and added 60 receiving yards in the process. Unfortunately, the team’s 2023 bowl game against USF didn’t go according to plan, with him rushing 20 times for just two yards and racking up two receptions for 13 yards. However, that was a 45-0 blowout in which the entire team couldn’t find their footing. Either way, the underwhelming performance doesn’t look good on his resume in a big matchup. This year, he picked up some of his value again, rushing 17 times for 120 yards and two touchdowns while adding on three receptions for 45 yards and another touchdown in a 52-35 win over WSU in the DirectTV Holiday Bowl. When it comes to the clutch gene and ability to perform in high-pressure situations, he’s proven to be capable. The problem is that he has shown a struggle against top-tier teams with a stout run defense.
NFL Projection And Fantasy Relevance:
Allen is likely to be drafted in the later rounds of the upcoming NFL Draft, perhaps in the fifth or sixth round. First things first, his NFL stock likely dropped due to the assault charges, even if he didn’t end up being suspended by the University for the 2023 season. Couple that with the fact that he isn’t exactly the biggest and most durable running back, and teams will likely wait to draft a versatile receiving back like him. If you’re interested in obtaining his services in any form of dynasty fantasy football league, then there’s a chance that he can contribute to your roster in due time. I wouldn’t expect him to be an instant starter anywhere, nor would he make an immediate roster impact due to his lack of familiarity on special teams. Luckily, his receiving skills will get him playing time at some point, which is when your fantasy patience will begin to see dividends. I wouldn’t hold out hope for him to be a generational running back in fantasy, though the skills he possesses in the passing game make him a viable stash to keep on your roster.
I think there are many NFL teams that would want a versatile receiving back like Allen. The problem is that he has an assault charge to his name, his durability concerns will make teams question his workhorse ability, and he’s struggled in college against stacked boxes. All of these facts put together make it seem like he’ll be a later selection in the draft when it eventually rolls around. I foresee him being an impact player on some roster by the end of this upcoming NFL season, though the role wouldn’t be large. He’d likely be a rotational running back for passing situations early on in his career, possibly fast-tracking his playing time if he can find a way to make an impact on special teams as well. Plus, his pass protection intelligence is quite strong, and that is something that teams definitely take note of when going through the scouting process. I would temper your expectations of Allen being an immediate superstar, though I will admit that there’s potential at the next level given his natural hands and ability to separate himself with a solid route tree.