Jets running back Braelon Allen emerged as a capable complement to Breece Hall during his rookie year, but he never experienced a true breakthrough game.
Only 20 years old during the entirety of his first NFL season, Allen is going into the campaign ahead looking to prove he's capable of more, still fueled by his Day 3 draft selection and a thirst to convince anyone and everyone of his excellence.
"I felt like I was the best running back in that (2024) draft, and I still do," Alle told the New York Post's Steve Serby. "I have a lot left to prove, not even to the outside world but still people in this locker room and people in this building and to myself. Last year, I kind of gotta flush it, forget about it, but that still drives me."
Allen, the 10th ball-carrier taken in last year's draft, had 334 yards and two touchdowns on 92 carries, as well as 19 catches for 148 yards and another score. His highest single-game rushing total was only 55 yards, but he certainly flashed a bit more as a rookie than several of his peers selected earlier. Picked nine spots ahead of him, fellow fourth-rounder Bucky Irving easily put together the best year of any of them, though.
Regardless, Allen has more on his plate than comparing résumés with draftmates.
The Jets are coming off a 5-12 season, their 14th straight without a playoff berth, and are a week away from kicking off a new campaign under first-year head coach Aaron Glenn.
As far as Allen's position room goes, first-string running back Breece Hall said over the offseason that he wasn't expecting an extension, in part because he wasn't the new brass' "guy." Hall was thus far correct. He's not under contract beyond 2025, which provides him some added incentive, but that could also be a motivating factor for Allen.
The immediate goal will be partnering with Hall to form a two-headed monster -- or perhaps a three-man rotation with Isaiah Davis -- as the Jets try to finally end their playoff drought.
In the long term, Allen could also cement himself at the top of Gang Green's future backfield plans should he show himself capable and Hall end up going elsewhere.
Allen's ability to do so should be aided by clicking with Glenn in the early going, as should the Jets' overall prospects for a long-sought turnaround.
"Definitely motivational, fiery, intense, but also just great dude, great leader," Allen said of his head coach.
When asked what made Glenn a great leader, he continued: "I think it just comes from him being a former player, very successful player, so he understands the things that we go through that allows us to kind of just connect with him a little more. Like he knows what he's doing, knows what he's talking about so that compels us to kind of follow his lead even more."
Allen and the Jets open up their season against old friend Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers on Sept. 7.
