Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen has put an end to the speculation — he will forego his senior season to enter the 2018 NFL Draft.
Allen announced his decision after the Cowboys' 37-14 victory over Central Michigan in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. The junior completed 11 of 19 for 154 yards and three touchdowns in the game.
Thank you @J_Prodigy_5 for an incredible career at Wyoming and best of luck in the @NFL ! You will always be a Cowboy! #RideForTheBrand #GoWyo pic.twitter.com/tKdKbKr8i6
— Wyoming Cowboy FB (@wyo_football) December 23, 2017
His decision to turn pro had been widely expected. In fact, the junior was introduced with Wyoming's senior players during the Cowboys' Senior Day in November.
Allen has prototypical size for an NFL quarterback (6-5, 233 pounds) and a strong arm, as he showed Friday night against Central Michigan.
A bullet from @J_Prodigy_5 to @JSco_2 puts the Pokes on top! Two career catches for @JSco_2 and two TDs! #BuildingSomethingSpecial #GoWyo pic.twitter.com/TZh5vRa7XV
— Wyoming Cowboy FB (@wyo_football) December 22, 2017
Those physical tools have some scouts projecting Allen as a top-10 overall pick in the draft. But not everyone is sold on him. Former NFL great Tiki Barber advised caution on all the Allen hype Friday.
"He looks the part ... but more important to me than looking the part is being the part and I don't know if he's always been the part," Barber said on his show Tiki and Tierney. "I'm just saying, have a little bit of caution."
Statistically, Allen took a slight step back this season from his sophomore campaign, when he had more than 3,200 yards and 28 touchdowns. He passed for 1,658 yards, with 13 TDs and six interceptions, this season, although he missed the final two regular season games with a shoulder injury.
Yet, the fact Allen returned to play in the bowl game highlights his dedication, said Wyoming coach Craig Bohl.
"In today's world where players are making all kinds of decisions about bowl games, Josh chose to play, and I applaud him for that," Bohl said (via ESPN). "If there's any NFL team looking for a player out there, you're never going to find a bigger competitor and a better leader than him."