Former Oregon star Devon Allen discusses dealing with the loss of his father

Former Oregon track and field and football star Devon Allen has always been blessed with world-class speed. He recently qualified for the World Track and Field Championships, but before qualifying his father tragically passed away. On Saturday afternoon, he won his 110-meter hurdle race to advance to the semifinals. Following the race, he took some time to speak with NBC about how he’s dealt with losing his father in the past month.

“You know, it’s been difficult. Obviously, I mean the hardest thing I’ve done in my life. And…I’d just like to say he always had the best seat in the house and now he can run with me,” Allen said.

Then he spoke a little bit about how he plans on honoring his father as the competition continues:

“Hey, my whole life I’ve honored my family. My dad gave me a lot of opportunities and he’s the reason why I’m at where I’m at right now. So, I’m just gonna keep being me and just go for it.”

The 110-meter hurdle final for the World Track and Field Championships is slated for Sunday night. Allen is one of the favorites to win the event.

He is currently signed to the Philadelphia Eagles and plans on being ready for the start of fall camp on July 26th. It’s been a long layoff from football for Allen, who last played for the Oregon Ducks in 2016. There are no guarantees he’ll make the Eagles’ final roster. But it sure would make for an incredible story and once again demonstrate what a remarkable world-class athlete Allen is, if he could somehow make the team.

He recently clocked the third fastest time ever in 110m hurdles

Allen recently accomplished some mind-blowing history in the world of track and field. In New York City Grand Prix–he clocked a blistering 110-meter hurdle time of 12.84 seconds–the third fastest time ever.

When he enrolled at Oregon in 2013, it didn’t take him long before Allen turned heads by clocking a 13.16 in the 110-meter hurdles in the NCAA Championship. Not only was the time good enough for a national crown, but it was a record for the event. The time was the second-fastest time in NCAA history.

Allen had to sit out the 2014 season due to injury. In the 2015 season, the former Duck receiver once again demonstrated his world-class talent, placing fifth in the 110-meter hurdles in the 2016 Olympics. He won the 2016 Olympic Trials in the 110-meter hurdles by setting a personal record of 13.03. He also won the NCAA national championship in the event with a time of 13.50.

On the football field, Allen was rated as a three-star prospect and the No. 64 wide receiver prospect in the 2013 class, according to the On3 Consensus Rankings.

Devon Allen’s Oregon football career showed promise, but was slowed by injuries

He made an impact in the Oregon spring game as a freshman, hauling in 94 receiving yards and two touchdown catches. In 2014, Allen ranked second on the team in receiving yards (684 yards) and led the team in touchdown catches (7), despite missing most of the final two games of the season. For the final two seasons of his college football career, he was slowed by injuries in 2015 and 2016. Allen still was able to record the third 100-yard receiving game of his career in 2016 against the Virginia Cavaliers when he hauled in 141 receiving yards on four catches, including a 77-yard touchdown catch. He wrapped up his college football career with 54 catches for 919 receiving yards and eight touchdown catches in 29 total games.