Overview
Position: Quarterback
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 215 lbs
School: Arkansas Razorbacks
NFL Combine Performance Data
40-yard dash: 4.84 seconds
Vertical Jump: 28 inches
Broad Jump: 110 inches
Brandon Allen 2016 NFL Draft Profile
Brandon Allen’s three year career for the Razorbacks was foreshadowed across the street from campus at Fayetteville High School.
Playing in the shadows of Razorback Stadium, Allen would start for the Bulldogs for three years, passing for 10,068 yards for his career. His high school coach Darryl Patton knew that Allen would be special for the program, stating “We knew he was gifted. He was very physically mature(sic) as a ninth grader and he could make throws that some of our high school quarterbacks couldn’t make.”
His sophomore year on varsity, Allen would throw 20 interceptions but that would gradually decrease over his career and during his Senior season would not throw an interception the entire regular season. He would cap his high school with 3,048 passing yards, 34 touchdowns and 500 rushing yards and would be honored with the 2010 Landers Award, given annually to the best high school football players in Arkansas.
Allen would make his first start as a redshirt freshman against Alabama – a 52-0 loss, throwing two interceptions. He would take full control of the reigns the next season and would vastly improve his accuracy and turnover ratio; from 50% competition rate as a sophomore, to 66% as a senior, which tied him for highest completion percentage in the country on 244/370 passing for 3,440 yards for 30 touchdowns.
Strengths
- High durability, made 34 consecutive starts at quarterback; the most by an Arkansas quarterback since joining the SEC.
- Shows athleticism even as a pro-style quarterback with the ability to extend plays and move outside the pocket.
- NFL type arm strength to make the throws needed.
- Accurate as a passer with room to improve that he has shown throughout his career.
- Highly coachable with a drive to improve.
Weaknesses
- Benefited from the offensive system used by Arkansas.
- Has a habit of locking onto receivers and not seeing the whole field.
- Lacks ideal frame and physical measurables for an NFL quarterback, especially in his hands.
NFL Comparison: Case Keenum, Los Angeles Rams
Teams with need at the position: Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers*, Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys*, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, Arizona Cardinals*, New Orleans Saints*
(*) = teams who are/will be beginning the transition from their current franchise/starting quarterback.
Projection: 4th – 6th round.
Bottom Line
A productive senior season has given Brandon Allen 2016 NFL Draft chances a boost that will lead to him hearing his name called during Draft weekend. His durability and willingness to get better will benefit him throughout his career at a position that can make or break a franchise. He will get the chance to lead a team but will need to continue his development into a true NFL quarterback to do so.
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