James Allen (running back) explained

James Allen
Number:20
Position:Running back
Birth Date:28 March 1975
Birth Place:Wynnewood, Oklahoma, U.S.
Height Ft:5
Height In:10
Weight Lbs:215
High School:Wynnewood (OK)
College:Oklahoma
Undraftedyear:1997
Pastteams:
Statlabel1:Rushing attempts
Statvalue1:670
Statlabel2:Rushing yards
Statvalue2:2,497
Statlabel3:Rushing touchdowns
Statvalue3:4
Statlabel4:Receptions
Statvalue4:133
Statlabel5:Receiving yards
Statvalue5:964
Statlabel6:Receiving touchdowns
Statvalue6:3
Pfr:AlleJa00

James Allen (born March 28, 1975) is an American former football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Oklahoma.

College career

Allen attended the University of Oklahoma starting in 1993, and was a true freshman for the Sooners, such as rushing for 102 yards against the Texas Longhorns in a 38–17 victory.[1] He would finish his freshman year with 788 yards rushing and one touchdown.[2] The following year, Allen was stopped at the goal line in a loss to the Longhorns, and was later replaced by De'mond Parker in 1996, though Allen would score the game-winning touchdown that season against the Longhorns, giving the 3–8 Sooners the 30–27 win.[3]

Professional career

Allen signed with the Chicago Bears on December 10, 1997,[4] though he was released on August 26, 1998.[5] He later was brought back on September 1, and placed on the Bears practice squad.[6] Allen was the Bears starting halfback,[7] and in 2000, he led the team with 1,120 rushing yards and two touchdowns.[8] During the season, Allen became the first Bears player to run for 100 yards since the 1998 season when he ran for 163 yards in his first career start against the Baltimore Ravens. However, in a loss to the New York Jets, Allen fumbled three times.[9] Allen's starting role was claimed by Anthony Thomas in 2001.[10] Against the Cleveland Browns in Week 8, Allen caught the game-tying Hail Mary pass from Shane Matthews that was deflected towards Allen, as the Bears went on to defeat the Browns 27–21.[11]

Allen later played for the expansion Houston Texans in the 2002 season, which was their inaugural season,[12] and started five games for the team, splitting duties with Jonathan Wells. Allen finished second behind Wells in rushing yards for the team with 519 yards.[13] However, in 2003, Allen retired from the NFL to become a rapper under the stage name Mersilis,[14] saying that he "lost a little bit of that fire".[15] Allen had skipped the Texans preseason game against the Denver Broncos due to "personal issues".[16] Two weeks later, Allen decided to unretire,[17] though Texans officials ruled him out of being with the team for the 2003 season, and he was released after not being claimed by any team. In his career, Allen amassed 2,497 yards and four touchdowns.[18]

NFL career statistics

Year Team GP Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD
CHI6 58 270 4.7 57 1 8 77 9.6 33 1
CHI12 32 119 3.7 13 0 9 91 10.1 17 0
CHI16 290 1,120 3.9 29 2 39 291 7.5 26 1
CHI16 135 469 3.5 19 1 30 203 6.8 34 1
HOU16 155 519 3.3 32 0 47 302 6.4 21 0
Career 66 670 2,497 3.7 57 4 133 964 7.2 34 3

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1993 Oklahoma vs. Texas Game Recap . December 17, 2012 . SoonerStats.com.
  2. Web site: James Allen . December 17, 2012 . SoonerSports.com.
  3. Web site: Trotter . Jake . Jake Trotter . July 9, 2012 . Five memorable plays from OU-Texas . December 17, 2012 . ESPN.
  4. News: December 10, 1997 . TRANSACTIONS . December 17, 2012 . The New York Times.
  5. News: Simon . Geroy . August 26, 1998 . Bears: Released RB James Allen and WR Randal Hill. Placed... . December 17, 2012 . Baltimore Sun.
  6. News: September 1, 2008 . Bears: Claimed S Ray Austin from Jets and DT Bryan... . December 17, 2012 . Baltimore Sun.
  7. Web site: Alder . James . August 17, 2000 . NFL 2000 Preview . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130116055658/http://football.about.com/library/weekly/aa081700.htm . January 16, 2013 . December 16, 2012 . About.com.
  8. Web site: B. Duane Cross . July 19, 2001 . 2001 Chicago Bears team preview . December 16, 2012 . CNN Sports Illustrated.
  9. Web site: November 28, 2000 . PACKERS HOPE ALLEN, BEARS DROP THE BALL GREEN BAY WOULD LIKE TO FORCE A REPEAT OF JAMES ALLEN'S THREE-FUMBLE PERFORMANCE VS. THE JETS.(Sports) . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924162130/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-67399463.html . September 24, 2015 . December 16, 2012 . . Highbeam Research.
  10. Web site: Taylor . Roy . 2001 Chicago Bears . December 16, 2012 . BearsHistory.com . Shane Matthews and James Allen began the season as starters at quarterback and halfback, but they were soon passed up by Jim Miller and rookie Anthony Thomas..
  11. Web site: November 4, 2001 . Cleveland Browns vs. Chicago Bears – Recap – November 04, 2001 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130717222420/http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=211104003 . dead . July 17, 2013 . December 16, 2012 . ESPN.
  12. Web site: 2002 HOUSTON TEXANS ALPHABETICAL ROSTER . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130325130222/http://media.houstontexans.com/images/9057/Rosters/2002_Roster.pdf . March 25, 2013 . December 16, 2012 . Houston Texans.
  13. Web site: August 26, 2003 . Allen had retired to pursue rap career . . Associated Press.
  14. Web site: Pasquarelli . Len . August 29, 2003 . Allen wants to return to league . December 21, 2012 . ESPN.
  15. Web site: Grant . Alan . August 23, 2003 . Former running back made right move . December 16, 2012 . ESPN.
  16. Web site: August 11, 2003 . Texans Running Back James Allen Retires . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160321181840/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-77439714.html . March 21, 2016 . December 16, 2012 . Highbeam Research.
  17. Web site: August 25, 2003 . NFL Running Back James Allen Unretires . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160313055639/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-78867025.html . March 13, 2016 . December 16, 2012 . Highbeam Research.
  18. Web site: James Allen . June 25, 2018 . nfl.com.