RB LeQuint Allen Jr. picked by Jaguars in 7th round of 2025 NFL Draft
LeQuint Allen Jr.'s 1,542 scrimmage yards last season led to his seventh-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft Saturday. Leonardo Eriman | Asst. Video Editor
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LeQuint Allen Jr. — the running back who emerged from Sean Tucker’s shadow to etch his name into Syracuse’s long history of backfield maestros — was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 236th overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft Saturday. Allen Jr. is the third SU player picked in this year’s draft, following quarterback Kyle McCord and tight end Oronde Gadsden II.
Allen Jr.’s versatility made him a standout prospect entering the 2025 draft. Discussions surrounded Allen Jr. regarding whether or not he should’ve bolted for the NFL this year, or returned to SU for another year of development. He decided to declare for the draft, and he’ll be rewarded with a four-year rookie contract from the Jaguars.
There aren’t many sweeter journeys out there than Allen Jr.’s. His inspiring rise from mourning the February 2023 murder of his father, LeQuint Allen Sr., to wearing his dad’s namesake on the back of his jersey en route to an incredible run at SU has made him one of the program’s best players of the early 2020s.
Allen Jr. finished his Syracuse career as a two-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference running back, earning those recognitions as a sophomore and junior — his two seasons as a starter. He rushed for 2,359 yards in three years and unleashed 26 rushing touchdowns, the ninth-most in program history.
The 2024 season turned out to be Allen Jr.’s best. He scampered for over 1,000 yards on the ground and over 500 yards through the air, accumulating 1,542 scrimmage yards and 20 total touchdowns to set career-highs in both categories. No running back in the Football Bowl Subdivision totaled more than his 64 receptions in 2024, which made scouts hail him as one of the clear-cut top receiving backs in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Only Allen Jr. and Arizona State running back, and Heisman finalist, Cam Skattebo rushed for 1,000 yards and tallied over 500 through the air this past campaign.
Some of Allen Jr.’s most memorable moments at Syracuse transpired over the last calendar year. He weathered intense pain to deliver a four-touchdown performance and spur SU’s top-25 win over UNLV in overtime on Oct. 4, 2024, converted another overtime game-winner against Virginia Tech on Nov. 2 and tallied 143 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns to propel the Orange’s shocking 42-38 regular-season finale win over Miami.
Syracuse head coach Fran Brown often called Allen Jr. SU’s No. 1 player. He referred to Allen Jr. as its finisher, constantly telling offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon to dial his number in late-game situations. Allen Jr. took Brown’s words to heart. The head coach maximized the tailback’s potential as a result.
“It just makes me want to go harder for my teammates and coach Brown and the whole staff,” Allen Jr. said of Brown’s confidence in him after SU’s win over VT. “That just comes with (my) work ethic, just keeping that same grit and just (to) keep going no matter what.”
Allen Jr.’s strong bond with Brown caused his decision to leave college early for the NFL to elicit some shock.
Pro Football Focus analysts Max Chadwick and Dalton Wasserman told The Daily Orange they would’ve rather seen Allen Jr. play a fourth year in college. Instead, he got shoved behind uber-talented first-round backs like Ashton Jeanty (Las Vegas Raiders) and Omarion Hampton (Los Angeles Chargers) in a loaded running back class this season. Allen Jr.’s receiving skills and workhorse stamina are still qualities that could make him a successful third-down back in the NFL.
Allen Jr. joins his former teammate in Tucker, who’s entering his third season on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as the two currently active-rostered NFL running backs who attended Syracuse.
