Former Wisconsin center shares perspective on former Badgers RB Braelon Allen

Former Wisconsin center shares perspective on former Badgers RB Braelon Allen

Former Wisconsin center Joe Tippmann shared his perspective on fellow Badger alumnus Braelon Allen’s draft position on Monday.

During Monday’s New York Jets media availability, the New York Post’s Jared Schwartz asked Tippmann, who blocked for Allen at UW from 2021-22, if he believed Allen’s combine numbers affected his draft position.

Here’s what Tippmann had to say in response.

“Yeah, I thought so,” Tippmann said. “I didn’t think he was gonna be a guy that fell all the way to the fourth. It means we got him, so can’t complain.”

For context, Allen was selected No. 134 overall in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft by the New York Jets. Through three games, he’s playing like a first- or second-round pick.

In his first three appearances as a Jet, Allen registered 25 touches for 141 total yards and two touchdowns. He became the youngest player (20 years, 239 days) to record two scores from scrimmage in a single game.

Following the combine, the NFL’s Next Gen Stats listed Allen as a “Good Backup With The Potential To Develop Into Starter.” He notched 26 repetitions on the bench press, a 32-inch vertical jump and 9-foot-9 broad jump.

At 6 feet, 1 inch and 235 pounds, Allen’s size caused some to be skeptical of how he would fare at the professional level. However, he finished his career No. 9 on UW’s all-time leading rushing list with nearly 3,500 yards in just three years of action.

The Jets appear to have secured a steal in this year’s NFL draft. Allen will continue to see repetitions alongside New York’s star running back Breece Hall.