Philadelphia Eagles

Track Athlete Devon Allen Hopes to Shine with the Philadelphia Eagles

Just a month ago, Devon Allen ran the third fastest 110 m hurdles in history. Now, the track athlete is changing his career and joining the Philadelphia Eagles to hopefully play in the NFL. Football is home to some of the most athletically gifted people in the world, and Allen will be hoping that his skills on the track translate to the football field.

Eagles' Devon Allen disqualified due to false start in 110M hurdles final at World Athletic Championships
Eagles’ Devon Allen was disqualified due to false start in 110M hurdles final at World Athletic Championships

Having previously played football in college, Allen has experience in handling the pigskin, and at 27 years old, he felt like time was running out on accomplishing one of his biggest dreams. He’s a three-time national champion in the hurdles and finished fifth at the Rio 2016 Olympics and fourth at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. While he played as a wide receiver for the University of Oregon, he decided to focus on athletics instead.

The Eagles played well last season, coming second in the NFC East and reaching the playoffs. However, they fell short in their first game, suffering a heavy defeat against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fans will be looking forward to the new season in hope, and they can play casino games online while they wait. Online casinos are legal throughout the state of Pennsylvania, with PA online casino no deposit bonus codes available.

How Can Devon Allen Play in the NFL?

Allen may be a track athlete, but he previously played college football before focusing on hurdling. At Oregon University, he was a wide receiver and racked up 684 yards, and seven touchdowns from 41 caught passes during his time playing.

After winning the New York Grand Prix in hurdling this year, Allen was poised to compete in the World Athletic Championships,  recording the fourth-fastest qualifying run. However, Allen was disqualified in the main event due to a false start and decided to try his hand at football once more.

Taking part in a pro day, Allen completed the 40-yard dash in just 4.35 seconds and earned himself an invitation to train with the Eagles. After impressing the coaching team in Philadelphia, he signed a contract worth up to $2.5 million. Allen will be bulking up and getting stronger for the upcoming season, having already gained ten pounds to prepare.

He’ll potentially bring something different to the Eagles, adding a new outlet for them in their offense. Whether he plays or not remains to be seen, however. Allen can be a great asset to the team if his athleticism translates well to football playing ability. He says that his goal is to play in the NFL and help take the Eagles to the Super Bowl, but he hasn’t played a game since 2016.

Olympians Who Have Played NFL

Allen wouldn’t be the only Olympian to play in the NFL. Over the years, some of the world’s best athletes have added to their legend by stepping onto the football field. The most recent example was Marvin Bracy, a former Olympic sprinter who joined the Seattle Seahawks in 2016. However, he never managed to play a game for the Hawks, with his contract eventually waived a year after signing.

Jahvid Best is another Olympic athlete who also played in the NFL. Best was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 2010 after a successful college career in California. He spent three seasons at the Lions before retiring due to concussion-related issues and returned to athletics, which he had competed in back in high school. He would go on to compete in the national track and field championships before entering the 2016 Olympics, representing St Lucia in the 100-metre sprint against the likes of Usain Bolt. 

Damond Talbot

NFL Draft Diamonds was created to assist the underdogs playing the sport. We call them diamonds in the rough. My name is Damond Talbot, I have worked extremely hard to help hundreds of small school players over the past several years, and will continue my mission. We have several contributors on this site, and if they contribute their name and contact will be in the piece above. You can email me at nfldraftdiamonds@gmail.com

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