Second-year Jets running back Braelon Allen tackles some Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby ahead of next week’s season-opener against the Steelers.
Q: Do you still have a chip on your shoulder because you were a 2024 fourth-round draft pick?
A: Oh yeah, 100 percent. 100 percent. I felt like I was the best running back in that draft, and I still do. I have a lot left to prove, not even to the outside world but still people in this locker room and people in this building and to myself. Last year, I kind of gotta flush it, forget about it, but that still drives me.
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tRY IT NOWQ: What drives you in general?
A: Just the desire to be great. I want to have a lasting legacy in this game. That’s what I strive for every day, is just being great, being the best in the league and being the best version of myself.
Q: What makes you think you can be great?
A: Everything I’ve set out to do before in terms of reaching levels I wanted to reach and accomplishing goals, I’ve always been able to do. So I just gotta always keep the main thing the main thing, and take my craft very seriously as I do. I know if I keep God first, keep following this plan and this trajectory that I’ve set myself on, it’s bound to happen.
Q: Give me your scouting report on Braelon Allen.
A: Obviously a big, powerful running back … not afraid of contact … falls forward … more shifty and agile than people would think … but if you come and tackle him, you gotta bring your stuff with you.
Q: Describe your on-field mentality.
A: Definitely physical. I played a lot of defense growing up through high school, that’s kind of a mentality I developed on that side of the ball, just delivering the hits, not taking them, so I kind of carried that over to when I started playing running back in college [at Wisconsin]. My mindset on every play is just to punish and try to impose my will.
Q: What position did you play on defense?
A: I was a safety and then, as I was getting bigger throughout high school, I was projected to play linebacker in college.
Q: How come you didn’t?
A: That’s a good question. I kind of left it up to the coaches at Wisconsin, and they felt I was gonna be best suited at running back.
Q: Are you 235, 240 pounds?
A: About 240.
Q: As the youngest player in the league last year, what was it like for a 20-year-old kid as a rookie?
A: It was obviously very exciting for me and my family. Something I dreamed about my whole life. I entered college when I was 17 and played that whole freshman season as a 17-year-old. We saw with Ryan Williams this past year at Alabama, the receiver. So I kind of had that same thing that whole freshman year as well. So it was real similar to that. Like I said, just exciting, been wanting to play at this level ever since I was a little boy.
Q: Who was your idol growing up?
A: I’m like a football fanatic, so I watched a lot of different people, but the guy that really sparked my love for the game was Melvin Gordon when he was at Wisconsin. Playing a bunch of different positions, I watched a ton of different guys. In terms of running backs, definitely Melvin, Adrian Peterson, Ezekiel Elliott, Derrick Henry, Saquon [Barkley], those guys.
Q: What was it like working out with King Henry?
A: Amazing. Everybody has probably seen the videos of him working out, they’ve gone viral plenty of times. And just getting an inside look at what it looks like to be a pro, and what it looks like to be one of the best in the game … the best in the game. I trained with him before the draft, that was the first time I had met him, we had talked online and whatever, through text. And then this past season in the offseason stayed down in Dallas, for that whole winter duration. It was an awesome experience, he’s a great dude, great competitor, obviously somebody I would definitely like to follow.
Q: Did he give you any advice?
A: Oh yeah, a ton of it. We worked out every single day, I was with him two or three hours every single day. I would ask him whatever questions would pop in my head. He was great. Whatever I needed, he was able to answer for me … mostly about recovery, nutrition, things like that. And then just kind of technical tips in terms of maybe winning in open space against a DB or something like that.
Q: Give me one example, one play that defines your physical toughness.
A: A couple come to mind. My last home game at Wisconsin, against Nebraska, we won in overtime, and I was playing on a high ankle sprain. I had missed a couple of weeks prior, and it wasn’t really feeling great yet. By no means was it my best game, best rushing performance at all, but it was a gritty game, came down to the wire in overtime, and I had a run from like the 3-yard line I believe, got in a pile and we drove the pile into the end zone and won the game, and I remember watching the TV copy of it and the announcer goes: “How’s that for toughness” after they were kind of talking about it the whole game.
Q: Do you watch clips of old-time power backs like Jim Brown?
A: I don’t go back that far (laugh).
Q: How far back do you go?
A: Recently the oldest back I watched was Jerome Bettis. I’m not trying to model my game after him or nothing like that, but I do enjoy watching power backs, the game was a lot different back then, so The Bus is one. I don’t go back too far, like Steven Jackson’s another guy … Mike Alstott, Peyton Hillis, those dudes.
Q: Whatever comes to mind; Aaron Glenn.
A: Definitely motivational, fiery, intense, but also just great dude, great leader.
Q: What makes him a great leader?
A: I think it just comes from him being a former player, very successful player, so he understands the things that we go through that allows us to kind of just connect with him a little more. Like he knows what he’s doing, knows what he’s talking about so that compels us to kind of follow his lead even more.
Q: Was there one speech that really resonated with you?
A: I wouldn’t say a speech, but I remember a quote he said in the middle of training camp right before practice. He said, “Don’t let how your body feels affect your performance.” It’s just like a subtle, gentle reminder, but in that moment it’s like I’m hurting, but it doesn’t matter, I still gotta go out here and do my job, like it’s gonna be this way all season.
Q: How is the culture different from a year ago?
A: It’s kind of hard for me to pinpoint one thing. I think there’s just that level of confidence that we’ve got the pieces that we need, players and coaches. We’re all playing for each other.
Q: Justin Fields in the huddle.
A: Calm, poised, confident. He’s an explosive playmaker.
Q: Breece Hall.
A: (Laugh) Goofy, funny guy, but when it’s time to work, he always shows up to do his part. Great leader as well, and one of my best friends.
Q: Garrett Wilson.
A: Ridiculous, just unbelievable. Most athletic guy I’ve ever seen in my life, but another dude that’s just extremely confident, loves his teammates.
Q: Mason Taylor.
A: Gritty … willing to do whatever. He makes a ton of plays.
Q: Armand Membou.
A: Another gritty guy. He’s gonna fight tooth and nail every single snap. Definitely excited for his career.
Q: What makes you confident in your offensive line?
A: Just from what I’ve seen throughout camp, they move people out of the way. They pave lanes for us no matter what the play is. I think this group can definitely be best in the league.
Q: Did you go to Lambeau Field as a kid?
A: I did not.
Q: How come?
A: I wasn’t a Packers fan. My grandparents, they were Packers fans, but my dad and his family were Bears fans.
Q: What kind of fan were you?
A: I wasn’t really a fan of players, so I never really rooted for a team.
Q: What do you recall about last year’s Opening Day?
A: We were at San Fran, and I just remember standing next to Isaiah Davis on the sideline during the national anthem, and we were like, “Wow!” The stadium was rocking. They were doing their introductions and stuff and I’m like, “This is the real deal.” And then lining up for kick return, and just being right next to that logo at midfield, I’m like, “OK, this is real.” The 49ers, one of the best teams in the league. This is it for me.”
Q: How about last year’s home opener?
A: Home opener was amazing, that was Thursday night, New England, and we beat them, and that was just an awesome night.
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Q: Opening Day this year with Aaron Rodgers on the other side.
A: We’re keeping it about ourself, it doesn’t matter who’s coming in here. It’s about us, and we’ve gotta beat the opponent. I’m just excited to showcase all the work that we’ve put in.
Q: What did you learn about Aaron Rodgers as a teammate last year?
A: He was great for me, great mentor. Definitely made me a better player.
Q: In what way?
A: Well, being on the field with him, he makes it a very cerebral game. So I gotta be on my tiptoes every single snap knowing that he could change something, or something could pop up two weeks ago that we haven’t talked about that’s kind of in my memory bank and I gotta be able to execute at any time.
Q: What is the biggest adversity you’ve had to overcome?
A: I would say last season just being in a position I haven’t been in before, being 5-12 and kind of struggling throughout the year. … The first time in my life where I’m not really playing and being the starter. So I think that’s just a lot to deal with, especially as a 20-year-old having these high expectations. Really the first time that my expectations haven’t been met … still having to show up every day and be the same person and work as hard as I can to keep putting myself in a position to be successful was a challenge in itself but definitely a great learning experience.
Q: How about one example of your mental toughness?
A: I gotta go with that example of adversity, just being here last year. It seems easy from the outside to show up here every day from a spectator lens. This life seems sunshine and rainbows, and they think we kind of just come here, play football and get paid a bunch and that’s it. But when you’re a competitor, and things aren’t going the way you want ’em to go and you have these expectations, things just aren’t going according to plan, it sucks. It takes a toll on your mental health, but still, it’s a very, very long season, and you gotta come to this building every single day and do the same things over and over and over, and sit through meetings and lift and practice, even when your season’s practically over, you still have to do those things and you still have to prepare to win that next game. That’s not easy by any means. I can say that about myself, but everybody went through it, too. The guys that are still in this locker room are the guys that came out the other side of that mentally stronger.
Q: Why do you wear No. 0?
A: I was wearing 1 in high school, and then when I got to college, it was the second year I think that 0 was allowed and nobody had worn it yet.
Q: How are you diet conscious?
A: Every morning, my breakfast is always the same — berries, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries I’m eating right now, with honey on it, raw honey. Normally don’t really eat a lunch, if I do it’s normally, I have a chef, so it’ll be like a breakfast burrito of some sort, an omelet or a bagel — egg and cheese, turkey bacon on a bagel, something like that. Dinner’s always a little different, but I don’t eat anything fried. I limit the dairy but really just cheese. Last year I didn’t eat gluten but I got gluten back in the diet now.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: Kobe Bryant, LeBron [James], Tom Brady.
Q: Why Brady?
A: I’m just trying to grasp these guys’ mentalities. Obviously one of the best, the best to ever do it in the NFL and two of the best to ever do it in another sport.
Q: Favorite movie?
A: “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.
Q: Favorite actor?
A: Adam Sandler.
Q: Favorite singer/rapper/entertainer?
A: Drake or Gunna.
Q: Favorite meal?
A: Steak tacos.
Q: Favorite New York or New Jersey restaurant?
A: I gotta shout out Toca Vez [Basking Ridge, N.J.], that’s go-to for me. I just went to Pastis in the city. They have an amazing burger, oh my gosh, that burger.
Q: What would you tell fantasy football drafters about drafting Braelon Allen?
A: (Laugh) It’s kind of a tough spot for me to say, because nothing’s guaranteed in terms of the playing time that I’m gonna get and the touches I’m gonna get, so it’s like I don’t want to tell people to draft me and then we have to throw the ball a lot more than expected and it’s not a whole lotta carries to go around. So, if you do, great, I appreciate it, if you don’t, I don’t blame you, but…
Q: Personal goals?
A: Just to expand my role and do more, do better than last year. That’s all I can really say.
Q: Is this team ready to win?
A: One hundred percent.
Q: Why?
A: Like I said before, we’re here to play for each other, we all have the same common goal. We feel that we have the leadership in place to guide us along the way. Obviously it’s on the players, but when you have somebody at the head of the helm who’s been there, who’s done it, it gives you that feeling of, “OK, it’s possible.”