While Braelon Allen’s 2025 season with the New York Jets was cut short due to an injury, it’s time to look at the positives. His professional career hasn’t been what anyone expected, but his time with the Wisconsin Badgers was the opposite. A look at Allen’s stats shows a player who’s dealt with injuries before, but has bounced back well.
Braelon Allen’s Phenomenal Freshman Season
When Jonathan Taylor departed for the NFL after the 2019 season, the Badgers assumed they’d find another elite back to take over the rushing attack. After a disappointing 2020 season, the Badgers needed someone to step up.
Allen didn’t burst onto the scene right away. In the first three games he played, he carried the ball 12 times for 49 yards and a touchdown. With the Badgers sitting at 1-3, they knew they had to shake things up. So why not give the 17-year-old freshman a chance?
Wisconsin gave Allen a chance, and the rest is history. He had eight games in which he finished with more than 100 yards rushing, including huge games against Northwestern (173 yards, three touchdowns) and Nebraska (228 yards, three touchdowns).
The hype for the freshman phenom exploded towards the end of the season, and the Badgers’ tradition at running back continued.
PFSN College RB+ Score: 82.6 (B-)
Attempts: 186
Yards: 1,268
Yards Per Carry: 6.8
Rushing TDs: 12
Receptions: 8
Receiving Yards: 39
Yards Per Catch: 4.9
Receiving TDs: 0
Braelon Allen’s Sensational Sophomore Season in Madison
Allen entered the 2022 season tied for 16th in the Heisman Trophy odds, and the hype surrounding the Badgers’ running back only grew. He wasted little time picking up where he left off and ran the ball 14 times for 148 yards and two touchdowns.
MORE: Strength of Schedule for All 136 FBS College Football Teams
It was clear the Badgers trusted him more, as he ran the ball 230 times that season, but his efficiency still remained solid. While his averages dipped, he still averaged 5.4 yards per carry to lead the offense. He finished the year as a second-team All-Big Ten selection for the 2022 season.
PFSN College RB+ Score: 79.13 (C+)
Attempts: 230
Yards: 1,242
Yards Per Carry: 5.4
Rushing TDs: 11
Receptions: 13
Receiving Yards: 104
Yards Per Catch: 8.0
Receiving TDs: 0
Injuries Limit Success in Final Season
Injuries became more of a problem in 2022 and, unfortunately, carried into the 2023 season as well. While Allen played in 11 of the Badgers’ 13 games this year, he wasn’t as effective in his final season with the team. Likewise, Wisconsin ranked 71st in PFSN’s CFB Offense Impact metric.
He rushed for less than 100 yards in five games, including two games with 20 or fewer. Once considered a potential first-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, Allen’s stock fell, and he ended up as a fourth-round pick with the Jets.
Allen finished the year with another 12 rushing touchdowns and averaged 5.4 yards per carry for the second season in a row. Despite his injuries, his production, increased usage in the passing attack, and frame made him an appealing prospect for the NFL, and many considered him a steal for the Jets.
PFSN College RB+ Score: 80.38 (B-)
Attempts: 181
Yards: 984
Yards Per Carry: 5.4
Rushing TDs: 12
Receptions: 28
Receiving Yards: 132
Yards Per Catch: 4.7
Receiving TDs: 0