From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Virginia Union running back Curtis Allen.
No. 0 CURTIS ALLEN/ RB VIRGINIA UNION (SENIOR) – 6000, 219 pounds
Measurements
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Curtis Allen 6000/219 9 7/8 32 1/2 78 1/2
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
N/A N/A N/A N/A
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
N/A N/A N/A
*From Pro Day
The Good
— Good size with muscular build
— Patient behind the line of scrimmage, lets blocks develop
— Has vision to pick out right gaps inside and outside
— Gets up to speed quickly, good burst through the hole
— Shows some aggression as a runner but there is more inside him
— Good contact balance overall and stiff arm in space
— Makes a strong effort to block for teammates
— Can create yards after the catch
— Willing participant in pass protection
The Bad
— Runs very upright; smaller defenders can wrap him up and stop his progression
— Does not finish forward consistently
— Used hurdle often in games watched, including one that caused a fumble
— Limited route tree
— Hands were marginal in limited opportunities as a receiver
— Saw two drops on passes up near his head
— Pass-protection angles allow inside lane on the edge
— Use of hands in pass protection was marginal often wrapping around a blitzer
— Limited usage as a return man on special teams
Stats
— 28 games
— Career: 414 carries, 2,972 yards, 45 TD, 7 receptions, 63 yards
— 2025: 297 carries, 2,409 yards, 30 TD, 5 reception, 63 yards
— Waited for his opportunity playing behind Jada Byers a two-time Harlon Hill nominee
— 2025 Deacon Jones Trophy winner – Black College Football Player of the Year
— Led Division II in yards and touchdowns
— Harlon Hill Trophy winner – DII College Player of the Year
— CIAA Offensive Player of the Year
— 2025 Walter Camp Division II All-America Team
— First HBCU player to win Deacon Jones and Harlon Hill trophies in the same year
— Named RVA Sports Male Athlete of the Year recognizing the impact of sports on the local community
— 100+ yards in every game, 4 200+ yards games, 1 300+ game
— Career high 369 yards and five touchdowns versus Bluefield State
— Three NFL teams representatives have shown interest since during last season – Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Buffalo Bills
— Known inside the locker room as “The Quiet Storm”
— Selected to the Black College Football Legacy Bowl
Injury History
— November 2025: Left game with apparent ankle issue versus Virginia State
— October 2025: was hobbled against Winston-Salem State
Background
— Played for Prince George HS in Petersburg, Va.
— Earned Virginia High School League (VHSL) Class 5A second-team All-State honors as a junior
— Named a Richmond Times-Dispatch All-Metro second-team running back as a senior
— Also played basketball, scoring 19 points per game as a junior
— Soft spoken. Faith-driven. Motivated by family.
Tape Breakdown
Curtis Allen is a player with good height, good weight, and good speed. He had breakout season in 2025 after waiting for his turn playing behind another proficient runner in Jada Byers. That patience paid off with a record-breaking season and a bevy of trophies. Virginia Union ran primarily out of a shotgun/pistol look.
As a runner, Allen shows good patience and vision and is decisive in making his cuts on inside and outside runs. He has good burst and acceleration to hit the hole and get to the second level quickly.
Allen shows some aggressiveness to run angry along with a bit of wiggle to make defenders miss. His contact balance is good, and he will use a stiff arm in space to hold off tacklers. He keeps his legs churning to push for additional yards and can run through arm tackles. On quarterback runs and broken plays, he displayed good effort to get a block for his teammates.
When Allen runs behind his pads, he can wallop second- and third-level defenders.
In the passing game, he was not used consistently as a receiver. Out of the backfield he ran a limited tree, including swing, wheel, stab, and flat. After the catch he can find extra yards.
In pass protection, he is willing to step up and square up pass rushers near the line of scrimmage and can slow them down with good play strength and agility.
He runs very upright, allowing smaller defenders to wrap him up and stop his progression. This also leads to him not finishing forward consistently and opens his body up to more hits.
Allen used a hurdle multiple times and one led to a fumble. His hands are marginal and I saw a couple drops on throws above the waist. In pass protection, his use of hands is poor, Allen wrapping his arms around rushers on multiple occasions.
Conclusion
Allen has good size, speed and play strength. He uses good patience and vision to find the right gap and good burst and acceleration to hit the hole quickly. With good contact balance, can run through arm tacklers and stiff-arm others. He is willing in pass protection and can create after the catch.
Areas to improve include lowering his pad level and running behind his pads to use his size more effectively. Improving in the passing game to be a viable pass blocking option and eliminating his concentration drops will help him moving forward.
Allen bided his time and didn’t transfer despite considering it and it worked out for him with a monster 2025 season. He has a good skill set teams can work with and if you can get him to run lower, behind his pads, I think his NFL chances get even better. His best fit would be in a power or inside-zone running scheme but may be a two-down back at this point. Additionally, he doesn’t have a history of kick returns (just two), but I think that could be a role he could fit as well.
As a player comp, I’ll give you Alfred Blue. He too showed vision and patience and could run through arm tackles but also needed to run with better pad level and improve in pass protection.
NFL Projection: UDFA/Priority Free AgentSteelers Depot Grade: 6.1 (Pure Backup)Grade Range: 5.5 – 7.0Games Watched: 2025 – Vs Miles, At Edward Waters, Vs California (PA)
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