Life is good for Devon Allen.
Actually, really good.
The former Brophy Broncos star isn’t just a big deal locally here in the Valley or in the Pacific northwest, he may soon be a global sensation if the script stays true next month in Rio.
The Oregon wide receiver won’t be trading his track shoes for fall camp cleats quite yet after qualifying for the Olympics in the 110-meter hurdles in, of all places, Eugene earlier this month. The feat came despite losing close to a year due to a knee injury and was the second-fastest in the world this year.
Allen’s widespread success doesn’t come as any surprise to the person who recruited him.
“He started talking about wanting to play in the NFL and wanting to compete in the Olympics,” Oregon head football coach Mark Helfrich told Sports360AZ.com from Pac-12 Football Media Days in Hollywood last week. “In recruiting you have a lot of unrealistic recruiting conversations with guys. This was always something very tangible, very real.”
Allen’s accomplishments are about as tangible and real as himself. The two-sport star is becoming as well-known for his work off the track/field as he is on it.
“I went on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic with him,” linebacker Johnny Ragin III “We built a basketball court for one of the bateyes over there. We had a good time…he’s a fun person to be around.”
Between the white lines the six-foot, 185-pounder led the Ducks in touchdown receptions as a redshirt freshman (seven). Those numbers dropped off substantially last fall (no touchdowns, nine receptions) in an injury-filled season but his head coach knows no hurdle, no pun intended, is too great to overcome.
“He’s everything,” Helfrich explained. “He’s a great student. He’s a great person. He’s a good friend. He’s a great teammate…it’s immeasurable the impact he’s had.”
Devon Allen is taking “life in the fast lane” to a whole new level.
