James Allen (running back)

James Allen
No. 20
Position: Running back
Personal information
Date of birth: (1975-03-28) March 28, 1975
Place of birth: Wynnewood, Oklahoma
Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight: 215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school: Wynnewood (OK)
College: Oklahoma
Undrafted: 1997
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

James Allen (born March 28, 1975) is a former American football running back in the National Football League. He played college football for Oklahoma.

College career

Allen attended the University of Oklahoma starting in 1993, and was a true freshman for the Sooners, such as rushing for 102 yards against the Texas Longhorns in a 38-17 victory.[1] He would finish his freshman year with 788 yards rushing and one touchdown.[2] The following year, Allen was stopped at the goal line in a loss to the Longhorns, and was later replaced by De'mond Parker in 1996, though Allen would score the game-winning touchdown that season against the Longhorns, giving the 3-8 Sooners the 30-27 victory.[3]

Professional career

Allen signed with the Chicago Bears on December 10, 1997,[4] though he was released on August 26, 1998.[5] He later was brought back on September 1, and placed on the Bears practice squad.[6] Allen was the Bears starting halfback,[7] and in 2000, he led the team with 1,120 rushing yards and two touchdowns.[8] During the season, Allen became the first Bears player to run for 100 yards since the 1998 season when he ran for 163 yards in his first career start against the Baltimore Ravens. However, in a loss to the New York Jets, Allen fumbled three times.[9] Allen's starting role was claimed by Anthony Thomas in 2001.[10] Against the Cleveland Browns in Week 8, Allen caught the game-tying Hail Mary pass from Shane Matthews that was deflected towards Allen, as the Bears went on to defeat the Browns 27-21.[11]

Allen later played for the expansion Houston Texans in the 2002 season, which was their inaugural season,[12] and started five games for the team, splitting duties with Jonathan Wells. Allen finished second behind Wells in rushing yards for the team with 519 yards.[13] However, in 2003, Allen retired from the NFL to become a rapper under the stage name Mersilis,[13] saying that he "lost a little bit of that fire".[14] Allen had skipped the Texans preseason game against the Denver Broncos due to "personal issues".[15] Two weeks later, Allen decided to unretire,[16] though Texans officials ruled him out of being with the team for the 2003 season, and he was released after not being claimed by any team.[13] In his career, Allen amassed 2,497 yards and seven touchdowns.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "1993 Oklahoma vs. Texas Game Recap". SoonerStats.com. Retrieved 2012-12-17.
  2. ↑ "James Allen". SoonerSports.com. Retrieved 2012-12-17.
  3. ↑ Trotter, Jake. "Five memorable plays from OU-Texas". ESPN. Retrieved 2012-12-17.
  4. ↑ "TRANSACTIONS". The New York Times. 1997-12-10. Retrieved 2012-12-17.
  5. ↑ Simon, Geroy (1998-08-26). "Bears: Released RB James Allen and WR Randal Hill. Placed...". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2012-12-17.
  6. ↑ "Bears: Claimed S Ray Austin from Jets and DT Bryan...". Baltimore Sun. 2008-09-01. Retrieved 2012-12-17.
  7. ↑ Alder, James (2000-08-17). "NFL 2000 Preview". About.com. Retrieved 2012-12-16.
  8. ↑ B. Duane Cross (2001-07-19). "2001 Chicago Bears team preview". CNN Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2012-12-16.
  9. ↑ "PACKERS HOPE ALLEN, BEARS DROP THE BALL GREEN BAY WOULD LIKE TO FORCE A REPEAT OF JAMES ALLEN'S THREE-FUMBLE PERFORMANCE VS. THE JETS.(Sports)". Wisconsin State Journal. Highbeam Research. 2000-11-28. Retrieved 2012-12-16.
  10. ↑ Taylor, Roy. "2001 Chicago Bears". BearsHistory.com. Retrieved 2012-12-16. Shane Matthews and James Allen began the season as starters at quarterback and halfback, but they were soon passed up by Jim Miller and rookie Anthony Thomas.
  11. ↑ "Cleveland Browns vs. Chicago Bears - Recap - November 04, 2001". ESPN. 2001-11-04. Retrieved 2012-12-16.
  12. ↑ "2002 HOUSTON TEXANS ALPHABETICAL ROSTER" (PDF). Houston Texans. Retrieved 2012-12-16.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Associated Press (2003-08-26). "Allen had retired to pursue rap career". ESPN.
  14. ↑ Grant, Alan (2003-08-23). "Former running back made right move". ESPN. Retrieved 2012-12-16.
  15. ↑ "Texans Running Back James Allen Retires". Highbeam Research. 2003-08-11. Retrieved 2012-12-16.
  16. ↑ "NFL Running Back James Allen Unretires". Highbeam Research. 2003-08-25. Retrieved 2012-12-16.
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