Sophomore running back <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/michael-allen-87292/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Michael Allen</a> may look a little different this fall because of his jersey number. A year ago, Allen wore No. 24. Now he is at No. 2. That was unavailable to Allen in 2022 because of a team rule that true freshmen cannot wear single digits, but the number carries personal significance for Allen.



“It was actually my dad’s favorite number, and then I started wearing it coming up with … Pop Warner football,” Allen recalled. “… I wore it my JV year, freshman year at the JV. So, getting back to it. I feel good.”



Allen also feels satisfied about his place in the NC State offense. He was a late-season emergence last fall. The 5-foot-9, 205-pounder rushed 43 times in the final five games of the year after carrying 10 times the first eight, rushing for 202 yards and adding nine receptions for 91 yards and his lone collegiate touchdown during that stretch.



However, none of that was the result of a flip-the-switch moment where he found his self-confidence in being able to play at the college level. Allen noted that he has believed since he was a sophomore in high school, the moment his first offer arrived, that he was good enough to compete at this level.



So even while Allen was bordering on potentially redshirting last year, he never intended to do anything but burn that prospect.



“I was going to do everything in my power to not redshirt, whether it was on special teams or whether it was if I needed to go up and call plays, I was going to do something,” Allen said.



With his late-season emergence and the departure of former NC State running back <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/demie-sumo-karngbaye-34050/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Demie Sumo-Karngbaye</a> to the transfer portal after the spring, one would imagine that Allen would be approaching preseason camp with a different mindset from the rookie last year trying to learn his ways.



Allen does not believe that is not the case, however, and added that Sumo-Karngbaye’s departure was actually tough for him because of “how close I was to Demie.”



“There’s still older guys in the room, and I’m learning from <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/jordan-houston-141909/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jordan Houston</a>, you got <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/demarcus-jones-ii-158416/">Demarcus Jones</a>, you got <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/delbert-mimms-33536/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Delbert Mimms</a>. You still got a lot of knowledge in the running back room,” Allen explained.



One significant lesson Allen has learned is the value of studying the game and understanding the nuances of the position. He also has to fully understand the new offense being installed by coordinator <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/coach/robert-anae-134816/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Robert Anae</a>, who is in his first season with NC State.



Anae appears intent on taking advantage of Houston and Allen’s athleticism. Allen, for instance, expects to be used in routes more often this fall. Allen was a track and baseball standout at Rose High in Greenville, N.C. Houston was recently named to the <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/nc-state-wolfpack/news/nc-state-football-freaks-list/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">annual Freaks List released by Bruce Feldman</a>.



Allen has no disputes about Houston being on that list.



“He is 190 pounds of just concrete,” Allen said of Houston.



Allen is excited to showcase his own speed and Houston’s freakish athleticism in Anae’s offense. Along with his number, the new attack is going to be the biggest difference for NC State fans watching Allen in action.



“You going to see when we get out there, but it’s truly different, and I love it,” Michael Allen said.

USATSI_19467542 (1)

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