Devon Allen says he is the fastest player in NFL
Devon Allen may win this argument. As a two-time Olympian, he definitely could be the fastest player in the NFL. But in order to prove it, the track star probably needs to make an active roster.
Allen is a world class hurdler. But he spent all of 2022, his rookie season, on the Eagles practice squad. So we’re going to put a caveat with his proclamation. Call him possibly the fastest NFL prospect.
“I definitely am ,” Allen told TMZ Sports. “I’m not gonna roast [Tyreek Hill and DK Metcalf] because what they did [in track] was impressive. I raced Tyreek Hill when I was in high school. We raced and he smoked me when we were in high school and DK Metcalf ran a 10.3 a couple years ago is super impressive for a guy that’s six-three, six-four, 225, but I think especially at the top level — top-five, top-10 in the world — there’s a big gap in terms of just performance.”
Allen was a speedster when he played receiver for Oregon from 2014 through 2016. But his talent dictated that he pursue track. As a 110-meter hurdler, he made the U.S. Olympic teams in 2016 and 2020. He finaled in both Rio and Tokyo. And his track career isn’t finished. He ran the fourth fastest time in the world earlier this year in the 110 meters. He’ll be competing this week at the USATF Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, his old haunts. The meet also is a qualifier for the world championships in late August in Budapest, Hungary.
Devon Allen competes this week in US Track Championships. And he could have a decision to make on NFL
After spending so many years away from football, Devon Allen tried it again last year. He definitely was a project, but one with blazing speed. As any coach on any level will tell you, you can’t teach speed. But maybe you can coach up the technique and fundamentals.
“The first whirlwind for me was training camp, getting thrown into the fire, and realizing this isn’t college anymore,” Devon Allen said of his first year with the Eagles. “I played at the University of Oregon, which is high-level ball, but the NFL takes it the another level.”
However, he’s sustained that level in track. This coming week may determine whether he continues to pursue football. Although he did participate in Eagles mini camp, he’s also been competing in track. If he places in the top three in the 110 hurdles, then he earns a spot on the U.S. team to the world championships. And the world championships come in the heart of preseason.
“Yeah, I still don’t have a plan of what I’m going to do with Worlds being, you know, during training camp,” Allen told KPIC 4 , a TV station in Oregon. “Obviously, it’d be nice to compete at Worlds and also it would be nice to be at training camp so I can make the 53-man roster.
“So, obviously it’s going be a little bit of a decision, but I’m not going to worry about that until I make the world championship team. USA is a competitive meet. Just got to focus on doing that first.”