Rookie hype levels are typically high at this time of year. Some meet or exceed their initial expectations, while others flounder in the spotlight. Just where Washington Commanders running back Kaytron Allen falls remains to be seen, but he's going to give it everything to force the issue.
And before OTAs commence, Allen laid the gauntlet down to others in the running back room vying for roster spots and prominent places on the rotation.
The Commanders are probably moving forward with a committee approach. Jacory Croskey-Merritt's rookie surge warrants another look. Rachaad White and Jerome Ford were signed in free agency. Jeremy McNichols was re-signed. Throw Allen into the mix, and this will be an immensely intriguing dynamic to watch.
Kaytron Allen is coming to take over Commanders' backfield, no matter who stands in the way
Allen has not come to make up the numbers. He's planning to compete for involvement immediately, and he believes this tireless work ethic and love for the game will force others in the running back unit to buy into his mentality or get left behind.
"I'm ready to get to work right now. I feel like I'm a competitor, and me being in the room, I feel like it's going to make everybody better for sure.
"I just feel like when players around me, they got no other choice but to get better around me just because of my work ethic and how I go about playing football. I love football, so I put everything into it. And I just feel like if you're around me, you gotta love football, or if not, it's going to show."
The Commanders saw something in Allen that others didn't. His powerful running style, relentless energy, and proven production in between the tackles are traits Washington lost when Chris Rodriguez Jr. left for the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency. Expecting miracles right away is pushing it, but there should be a role for the Penn State product if everything goes well over the summer.
There are only so many spots to go around. The Commanders could take three or four running backs onto their 53-man roster. It won't be any more than that, so there will be plenty of jostling for position in the weeks and months ahead.
Allen wants to raise the standard. He'll be focused on his own goals, but he also thinks piling pressure on others can help improve standards. That's an elite mindset. It's also a major reason the Commanders became enamored by him during their comprehensive pre-draft assessments.
If everyone in the backfield isn't nervous about Allen's arrival, they should be.
He's not coming to take part. He is coming to take over.
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