Syracuse football: LeQuint Allen says he’s been an underdog his entire life

“I know a lot people thought I wouldn’t be anything.”

When Syracuse Orange running back LeQuint Allen committed to SU in 2022, he was a three-star recruit from Millville, New Jersey, coming in at 6-0 180 pounds. And, despite taking home the NJ Gatorade Player-Of-The-Year award his senior year of high school, he still felt like he was underrated.

“I know a lot of people thought I wouldn’t be anything,” Allen said at the NFL Scouting Combine. “My whole life I’ve been an underdog.”

And, Allen’s football journey hasn’t been an easy one. Before arriving at the NFL Scouting Combine, he’s had to fight through adversity every step of the way.

In December of Allen’s freshman year (2022), he was involved in a fight with another Syracuse student. The fight set off a chain of events that, at the time, put Allen’s football future at Syracuse in jeopardy. Not to mention, during the appeal process for Allen’s suspension, his father suddenly passed away after he was shot in February of 2023.

“Yeah, it’s definitely a motivation for me to keep going,” Allen on if his father’s passing motivates him. “He has the same name as me. Just to put on for my family at the end of the day, to know where I come from, and how hard it was for them to see me doing what I’m doing today, I know he’s looking down today happy.”

Nearly six months later, Allen’s suspension was eventually paused by a judge, and he was allowed to play football the following season — the year he was projected to be the team’s starter at running back, following the departure of former Syracuse running back and now Tampa Buccaneer Sean Tucker.

After that, the rest was history. During Allen’s two years as a starter at Syracuse he racked up some serious accolades. A two-time All-ACC running back (where in both years he was not named to the preseason All-ACC team), 1-of-6 players in program history to have back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons, and one of only two players nationally (Cam Skattebo – Arizona State) in 2024 with over 1,000 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards.

Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

“I like playing with a little chip on my shoulder, playing angry, running angry.” LeQuint on what makes him so good after contact.” You know, just running not to be denied, that’s how I run.”

And, Allen says, given the chance at the next level, he’s getting to work.

“I just grind every day when no one’s looking,” Allen added. “I’m not looking at any critics or anything like that. I know what I’m doing. So when I get a chance, I’m going to work.”

LeQuint did not run the 40-yard dash but impressed during drills. He was quick after the whistle, and he looked smooth running with the football. I’ll have more on what I saw from the Orange running back in my NFL Combine Saturday recap.