Running Back,
Los Angeles
Age: 22
College: Southern
California
Height: 6’2” Weight: 205
Prelude:
Allen was
used primarily as a blocking fullback in his first two college seasons, but
became the starting tailback as a junior with spectacular results. He won the
1981 Heisman Trophy, capping a season in which he rushed for 2427 yards and 22
touchdowns, and was chosen by the Raiders in the first round of the ’82 draft
(10th overall).
1982 Season Summary
Appeared and
started in all 9 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Rushing
Attempts – 160
[6]
Most
attempts, game - 25 (for 93 yds.) vs. LA Rams 12/18
Yards – 697 [4]
Most yards,
game – 156 yards (on 24 carries) vs. Seattle 12/5
Average gain
– 4.4 [7, tied with George Rogers]
TDs – 11 [1]
100-yard
rushing games - 3
Pass
Receiving
Receptions – 38
[12, tied with Wendell Tyler]
Most
receptions, game – 8 (for 61 yds.) vs. LA Rams 12/18
Yards – 401
Most yards,
game - 91 (on 5 catches) vs. Denver 12/26
Average gain
– 10.6
TDs - 3
Passing
Pass attempts
– 4
Pass
completions – 1
Passing
yardage – 47
TD passes – 0
Interceptions
– 0
All-Purpose
yards – 1098 [2]
Scoring
TDs – 14 [1]
Points – 84 [1]
Postseason: 2
G
Rushing
attempts – 32
Most rushing
attempts, game - 17 vs. Cleveland, AFC First Round playoff
Rushing yards
– 108
Most rushing
yards, game - 72 vs. Cleveland, AFC First Round playoff
Average gain
rushing – 3.4
Rushing TDs –
3
Pass
receptions – 12
Most pass
receptions, game - 6 vs. Cleveland, AFC First Round playoff, vs. NY Jets, AFC
Second Round playoff
Pass
receiving yards - 112
Most pass
receiving yards, game - 75 vs. Cleveland, AFC First Round playoff
Average yards
per reception – 9.3
Pass
Receiving TDs - 0
Awards & Honors:
NFL Rookie of
the Year: NEA, Sporting News
NFL Offensive
Rookie of the Year: AP, PFWA
AFC Rookie of
the Year: UPI
1st
team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, NEA, Pro Football Weekly
1st
team All-AFC: UPI
Pro Bowl
Raiders went 8-1
in strike-shortened season and were first seed in the AFC playoff tournament
that replaced the usual postseason format. Won First Round playoff over Cleveland
Browns (27-10). Lost Second Round playoff to New York Jets (17-14).
Aftermath:
Allen gained
over a thousand yards rushing in each of the next three seasons, with a high of
1759 yards in 1985, which led the league along with his 2314 yards from
scrimmage. He also was the MVP of the Super Bowl following the ’83 season,
after rushing for 191 yards, and led the NFL with 18 touchdowns in 1984. Allen
was a proficient receiver out of the backfield, catching a total of 237 passes
in his first four seasons. He played for 16 years in the NFL, and went to the
Pro Bowl six times, but after 1985 never again ran for a thousand yards or
caught more than 51 passes. Bothered by injuries (and involved in disputes with
owner Al Davis), Allen shared time with other running backs during the
remainder of his career with the Raiders, most notably Bo Jackson. Signing with
the Chiefs as a free agent in 1993 reinvigorated his career at age 33, and he
led the NFL with 12 rushing touchdowns. Allen retired in 1997 with 123 career
touchdowns, as well as 12,243 rushing yards and 587 pass receptions for another
5412 yards. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2003.
--
Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie
of the Year in the NFL, AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized
organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper Enterprise
Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the league
itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year).
