Breece Hall enthused by Braelon Allen's NFL debut, Jets running back duo

Former Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen certainly turned some heads with his NFL debut this weekend.

The former Badger rushed for 54 yards on six carries in the New York Jets 20-17 preseason win over the Washington Commanders. Some of his runs were flashbacks to his college dominance, finding space in the secondary before finishing the run by trucking an opposing defender.

Allen projects to enter the 2024 season as the primary backup to Jets star Breece Hall. He should to have a significant role in short-yardage and goal-line scenarios. More performances like this one, however, could lead to an expanded role as a regular complement to Hall’s speed and athleticism.

Jets head coach Robert Saleh said Allen’s debut ‘didn’t disappoint’ after the contest. “When he got to the second level, it’s painful to just touch the human,” Saleh continued. “He is a very heavy runner. And it was really cool to see him out in the open field.”

Hall agrees with Saleh’s sentiment and expressed excitement about their future 1-2 punch leading the Jets offense.

“He’s a really big, powerful guy,” Hall said. “We’re going to be a a lot for defenses to handle because they’re going to have to come tackle us a lot. And then with me in the pass game and him just coming in and being a downhill runner. He’s going to be a big screen guy and everything for us. So I’m just excited to see what he could do. But he did great today.”

Hall is one of the emerging stars at the position entering 2024. The former second-round pick out of Iowa State rushed for 994 and 5 touchdowns on 223 carries in 2023 as the Jets offense struggled without QB Aaron Rodgers.

The two running backs could form one of the NFL’s better duos in 2024. Hall certainly believes that to be the case.

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