Since being drafted in 2017, Josh Allen has become one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. He became skilled as both a passer and a rusher and became one of the most exciting players in any position in the NFL.
Allen struggled during his rookie year where he played in 12 games and started 11. He completed just 52.8% of his passes while throwing for 2,074 yards (172.8 yards per game). ), with 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Although he struggled as a passer early on, his rushing prowess was evident as he rushed for 631 yards and eight touchdowns.
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Allen’s struggles in the passing game to start his NFL career mirrored the start of his college career. In fact, there’s very little about Allen’s journey so far that has been easy or straightforward. From no Division I scholarship offers to entering college to then attending a Group of 5 middle school, Allen’s path was a circuitous one.
Sporting News takes a look at the various stoppages along the way that shaped Allen ahead of a Division Round rematch against the Chiefs.
Where did Josh Allen go to college?
While Allen’s path to the NFL isn’t entirely unique, it still hasn’t been straightforward. Allen — like Aaron Rodgers, Warren Moon and others — saw his college football journey begin at the junior collegiate level. A native of Firebaugh, Calif., Allen dreamed of going to Fresno State after high school but didn’t get any Division I offers of any kind, whether from FBS or FCS.
So Allen enrolled at Reedley College, a JUCO near Fresno, where he played in 10 games and started in six as a rookie. In total, by the end of his time at Reedley, he had completed 49% of his passes, but amassed 2,055 yards, 26 touchdowns and just five picks through the air to go along with 660 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns.
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After that, Allen claims he emailed every FBS head coach, offensive and defensive coordinator, and position coaches asking them to take a look at his highlights. Eventually, Allen received two FBS offers, but none from the Power 5 schools. The two schools interested were Michigan East from the MAC and Wyoming from the Mountain West, where he eventually ended up.
Eastern Michigan withdrew their offer to Allen because he visited Wyoming first, but the Cowboys didn’t even offer Allen until after one of their top QB targets went to Syracuse.
Once he arrived at Laramie in 2015, Allen played in two games and started one, but suffered a broken collarbone in seven places, just 13 games into his first game as a starter. The injury caused him to miss the rest of the season. He returned to the team in 2016 as a full-time starter and went on to start 25 games for the Cowboys.
He finished his Wyoming career with 5,066 yards, 44 touchdowns and 21 interceptions through the air to go along with 767 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns, which he eventually managed to become the seventh overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. .
Josh Allen’s Stats
For all the doubts Allen had coming out of high school and college, he showed he could clearly hack it at the NFL level. A Pro-Bowler and second-team All-Pro last year, Allen has completed 63.3% of his passes this season, while throwing for 4,407 yards, 36 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
But beyond his passing abilities, Allen was perhaps even better on the ground. He led the NFL this year in yards per rush at 6.3, thanks to 763 yards and six touchdowns, making him the second best rusher on his team and the 25th best rusher in the league ahead of running backs like Miles Sanders , James Conner and Saquon Barkley.
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In his four seasons in the league, Allen played in 61 games and started 60, with 14,114 yards, 103 touchdowns and 46 interceptions while completing 62.3% of his passes. He added 2,325 extra yards and 31 rushing touchdowns.
Josh Allen contract
Like most first-round picks, Allen signed a four-year rookie contract with a team option for a fifth season. That original deal was for four years and $21.44 million, with a $23 million team option, which Buffalo eventually clawed back for next season.
In August 2021, Allen signed an extension after a 2020 season in which he led the Bills to their first playoff win and subsequent AFC title berth since 1995. He also broke Hall of Famer Jim Kelly’s franchise record for a single season. touchdown passes in 2020 as well.
Heading into this season, Allen signed a six-year, $258 million extension, with $100 million in guaranteed money and $30 million in possible incentives.
Allen is the first of five 2018 first-round quarterback selections to sign a long-term contract.
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