Gary Allen (gridiron football)

Last updated

Gary Allen
No. 31, 21, 23, 36
Position: Running back
Personal information
Born:(1960-04-23)April 23, 1960
Baldwin Park, California, U.S.
Died:July 8, 2023(2023-07-08) (aged 63)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school: Baldwin Park
College: Hawaii
NFL draft: 1982  / Round: 6 / Pick: 148
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards:7
Rushing average:2.3
Total touchdowns:2
Player stats at PFR

Gary Eugene Allen (April 23, 1960 – July 8, 2023) was an American professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). He played in the NFL for the Houston Oilers and Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Calgary Stampeders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the CFL. He played college football for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors.

Contents

Early life

Gary Eugene Allen was born on April 23, 1960. He attended Baldwin Park High School, where he practiced football and track.

Allen accepted a football scholarship from the University of Hawaii, where he was initially recruited to play wide receiver. During a bye-week scrimmage between backups and redshirts in his freshman season, the team was short at running back and he was temporarily used at the position for depth purposes. After showing his running skills and dominating the practice, he was permanently switched and was named the starter against the University of the Pacific, where he ran for 92 yards. He finished his freshman year with a school record 521 rushing yards in half a season.

Though there were concerns about his size, his open-field elusiveness and strength made him one of the top players in the Western Athletic Conference. He ran from the I formation and was teamed with fullback David Toloumu. He also was a teammate of Mark Tuinei and Jesse Sapolu.

As a sophomore, he posted 1,040 rushing yards, six over 100-yard games and averaged more than 6 yards per carry. His accomplishments included a four-game 100-plus yards rushing streak, a six-carry 112-yard cameo against Prairie View A&M University, a 202-yard game against the University of Texas at El Paso, a 141-yard, three-touchdown performance against Temple University and a 155-yard game in an upset win against Arizona State University. He was invited to play in the Hula Bowl as a wide receiver.

Because of the field conditions at Aloha Stadium, he suffered from turf toe injuries in his last two years. As a junior, he had a down season with 884 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns, 26 receptions for 257 yards and one touchdown.

As a senior, he recorded 1,006 rushing yards (five 100-yard rushing games), including 189 yards against San Diego State University. He helped the team accomplish a 9-2 record and their first in season top-20 Associated Press ranking.

Allen finished his college career as the school's all-time rushing leader (3,451 yards) and is considered to be one of its greatest football players. [1] At the time he also set 20 school records including: 4,558 career all-purpose yards, career rushing attempts (647), career 100-yard games (15), 1,000-yard rushing seasons (2), career receiving yards for a running back (895 yards), career receptions for a running back (73), career touchdowns (19) and single-game rushing yards (247). [2] [3]

In 1998, he was inducted into the University of Hawaii ring of honor.

Professional career

Houston Oilers

Allen was selected by the Houston Oilers in the sixth round (148th overall) of the 1982 NFL draft, after dropping due to concerns about his short stature. He played in 8 games returning punts and kickoffs. On September 8, 1983, he was waived to make room for running back Vagas Ferguson. [4]

Dallas Cowboys

On September 29, 1983, he was signed as a free agent by the Dallas Cowboys to replace an injured Chuck McSwain. [5] He played only on special teams, returning punts and kickoffs. Against the Kansas City Chiefs, he returned a punt for a 68-yard touchdown. He also fumbled a punt that was the turning point in the wild card playoff loss against the Los Angeles Rams. [6]

The next year, he led the team in kickoff returns with a 20.2-yard average, ranked fifth in the NFL in punt return yards (446 yards), tenth in kickoff return yards (666 yards) and tied a team record with 54 punt returns. In 1985, the team tried unsuccessfully to convert him into a wide receiver, and he was released on August 16.

Calgary Stampeders

In 1986, he signed with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League and was named the starter at running back, after being originally listed fifth on the depth chart. He was benched in three games for being late to practices and missing team meetings. He still finished as the league's rushing leader (1,153 yards) and punt returner (768 yards), becoming the first player to be selected to the All-star team in two positions in a single season. [7] He also set franchise records with 768 punt return yards in a season and 155 punt return yards in a game (September 14).

The next year, he led the West Division in rushing yards (857) and again received All-star recognition. His performance fell off in 1988, before being cut after three games with only 100 rushing yards (5.0 yard avg.).

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

On August 22, 1988, he was signed by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. [8] He was released on September 8, after playing in three games and registering 53 rushing yards (5.6 yard avg.). [9]

Personal life and death

Allen later coached freshman football at his former Alma Mater Baldwin Park High School. His son, a graduate of Bishop Amat Memorial High School, was a receiver for the University of Hawaii. Allen also worked as an inspector for the San Gabriel Valley County Water District.

Allen died from heart failure in Covina,CA on July 8, 2023, at the age of 63. [10]

Related Research Articles

Patrick Jamel Crayton is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and the San Diego Chargers. He played college football at Northwestern Oklahoma State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allen Rossum</span> American football player (born 1975)

Allen Bonshaca Lamont Rossum is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 1998 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Faulk</span> American football player and coach (born 1976)

Kevin Troy Faulk is an American former football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons with the New England Patriots. He played college football for the LSU Tigers, receiving first-team All-American honors, and was selected in the second round of the 1999 NFL draft by the Patriots. Faulk held a variety of offensive and special teams roles during his career and contributed to the franchise's first three Super Bowl titles. For his accomplishments in New England, he was inducted to the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2016. After retiring from the NFL, Faulk returned to LSU as a coach from 2018 to 2021. He was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dante Hall</span> American football player (born 1978)

Damieon Dante Hall is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver and return specialist for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He is nicknamed "the Human Joystick" and "the X-Factor". He played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies and was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2000 NFL draft. Hall played for the Chiefs for seven years before being traded to the St. Louis Rams in 2007. Hall was ranked the 10th greatest return specialist in NFL history on NFL Network's NFL Top 10 Return Aces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Mitchell (running back)</span> American football player (born 1968)

Brian Keith Mitchell is an American former football running back and return specialist who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football as a quarterback for the Southwestern Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns and was selected by the Washington Redskins in the fifth round of the 1990 NFL draft. Mitchell is considered one of the greatest return specialists in NFL history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Preston Pearson</span> American football player (born 1945)

Preston James Pearson is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Baltimore Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys. He played college basketball for the Illinois Fighting Illini.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Butch Johnson (American football)</span> American football player (born 1954)

Michael McColly "Butch" Johnson is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos. He played college football for the UC Riverside Highlanders and was selected in the third round of the 1976 NFL Draft.

Skyler Levon Green is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals and New Orleans Saints. He also was a member of the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the New Orleans VooDoo of the Arena Football League (AFL). He played college football for the LSU Tigers, earning All-American honors.

Leroy Anthony Hill Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL), playing 10 seasons for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Stanford University.

Pervis R. Atkins Jr. was an American football player and actor.

Kevin Ray Williams, Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers. He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, earning first-team All-American honors in 1991.

Robert Lee Lavette is a former American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at Georgia Institute of Technology.

Ken-Yon Cedric Rambo is a former professional American football wide receiver in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Calgary Stampeders and Toronto Argonauts. He also was a member of the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ohio State University.

Wane Keith McGarity is a former American football wide receiver and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, Calgary Stampeders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Texas.

James Jones, Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a running back and kick returner for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Mississippi State Bulldogs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dwayne Harris</span> American football player (born 1987)

Dwayne Lenard Harris is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the East Carolina Pirates. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tavon Austin</span> American football player (born 1990)

Tavon Wesley Austin is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football for the West Virginia Mountaineers, receiving first-team All-American honors twice. He was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cordarrelle Patterson</span> American football player (born 1991)

Cordarrelle Patterson, nicknamed "Flash", is an American football running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). A versatile utility player, he plays running back, wide receiver, return specialist, and occasionally on defense. Patterson played college football for the Hutchinson Blue Dragons before transferring to the Tennessee Volunteers, where he earned first-team All-SEC honors. He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft. He has also been a member of the Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, and the Atlanta Falcons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucky Whitehead</span> American gridiron football player (born 1992)

Rodney Darnell "Lucky" Whitehead Jr. is an American professional football wide receiver for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played high school football at Osbourn High School in Manassas, Virginia. He played college football at Florida Atlantic, and was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2015. Spending most of his professional career with the BC Lions, he has also been a member of the New York Jets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KaVontae Turpin</span> American football player (born 1996)

KaVontae Lamon Turpin is an American football wide receiver and return specialist for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at TCU.

References

  1. ↑ "Football All-Americans". Hawaii Athletics. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  2. ↑ "UH Sports Circle of Honor". Archived from the original on May 2, 2015. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  3. ↑ Reardon, Dave (November 12, 2004). "Running down a Record". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Football". Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  5. ↑ "The Dallas Cowboys Thursday signed running back Gary Allen,..." Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Ferragamo, Rams eliminate Cowboys". Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  7. ↑ "West contributes two unanimous elections to all-star team" . Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Transactions" . Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Transactions" . Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  10. ↑ Tsai, Stephen (July 8, 2023). "Former Hawaii football star Gary Allen dies at 63". Star Advertiser. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.