Maybe you're tired of talking about the Jacksonville Jaguars trading Tank Bigsby to the Philadelphia Eagles for a pair of late-round draft picks (fifth and sixth in the 2026 NFL Draft, to be specific). And maybe I am, too, but here we are.
But you know who's definitely not tired of talking about it? Rookie LeQuint Allen Jr., who was once the fourth-string running back in a room crowded with talent.
With Bigsby joining the Eagles, Allen looks poised to earn his share of snaps behind starter Travis Etienne Jr. and backup Bhayshul Tuten. He's already earned the praise of new head coach Liam Coen—for his blocking ability, his speed, and more importantly, his work ethic and consistency.
Related: Jaguars turn to Rams practice squad for reinforcements after Tank Bigsby trade
Expect to see LeQuint Allen Jr. filling a multi-purpose role with the Jaguars
Head coach Liam Coen has twice praised LeQuint Allen Jr. since the Jaguars' one-sided win over the Carolina Panthers, despite the rookie's meager nine snaps in the game. Here (5:00 mark) and here (12:00 mark), Coen name-dropped Allen to the media for having "a great pickup on a corner blitz" that gave Trevor Lawrence the time he needed to connect on a dagger route with wide receiver Dyami Brown. You can check out the exact play below.
One of the reasons the #Jaguars felt they could move on from Bigsby is 7th-round rookie LeQuint Allen Jr. Liam Coen has recognized this play from Sunday twice since the game ended. pic.twitter.com/adHyzF8SyC
— John Shipley (@_John_Shipley) September 9, 2025
While Allen's blocking stood out, he also added just the slightest bit of strength to the offense in week 1, catching a pass for four yards and rushing once for seven more. Not the most productive outing, yet this kind of versatility and unselfish play is what makes a solid third-down back.
And praise of the young rookie hasn't been anything new from Coen. After their first scrimmage of training camp, when asked about how the young players performed, he was quick to highlight the Syracuse alum without naming a single other rookie: "LeQuint Allen continues to show up in terms of just doing the right thing, all the time. He plays hard, he plays fast. He made a great move in space."
Similarly, the former Syracuse Orangeman routinely earned praise for looking like a veteran and not a rookie throughout the offseason.
Related: 3 winners (and 1 loser) for Jaguars in Week 1 win over Carolina
Final thoughts
Head coach Liam Coen's confidence in LeQuint Allen Jr. may have been the deciding factor behind the Tank Bigsby trade. While Bhayshul Tuten seems to be the clear No. 2, Allen's presence, determination, and competitiveness have set him apart enough to earn him the snaps he needs to prove himself on the field.
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