Bills' Josh Allen adds to his offseason of honors with huge recognition that was all but a forgone conclusion

Josh Allen didn't play at a big college. As is well known by now, he wasn't recruiting coming out of high school. At all. Instead, he took an unconventional route to success, starting at Reedley Community College after getting continuously passed over by coaches throughout his entire playing career. After one season at Reedley, with no […]

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Josh Allen didn't play at a big college. As is well known by now, he wasn't recruiting coming out of high school. At all. Instead, he took an unconventional route to success, starting at Reedley Community College after getting continuously passed over by coaches throughout his entire playing career. 

After one season at Reedley, with no one responding to the famous email that Allen sent to countless coaches asking them to watch his tape, Wyoming coaches were in attendance scouting some of Allen's teammates. His coaches asked them to give Allen a look. Shortly after, they knew what they had found, offering to make Allen the face of their program.

All Allen did was go on to be the most beloved and electric athlete in University of Wyoming history. Now, he will be joining the college's Hall of Fame.

University of Wyoming announced the Hall of Fame class of 2025, and had this to say about Allen:

The most popular and dynamic player ever to play at UW, brought the national spotlight to Wyoming football. Allen quarterbacked the Cowboys to two consecutive eight-win seasons, a berth in the Mountain West Championship game in 2016 and two bowl games. Over his career at Wyoming, Allen accounted for 5,833 yards of total offense, with 5,066 passing yards and 767 rushing yards. He was responsible for 57 touchdowns during his career, 44 passing, 12 rushing, and one receiving. He graduated in December 2017 with a bachelor's degree in social science. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills with the 7th pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Wyoming's highest-ever draft pick. He earned second team All-Mountain West Conference honors in 2016 and honorable mention in 2017. He was a two-time team captain and a tremendous leader. While at Wyoming, he participated in the Manning Passing Academy, was the 2017 pre-season Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year, was on watch lists for the Walter Camp Award, the Maxwell Award, the Manning Award, and the Davey O'Brien Award. He was the MVP of the 2017 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. He participated in the Senior Bowl and was named the North Team Most Outstanding Player. His talents led to him becoming a nationally-known figure and a study of media coverage during his time at Wyoming estimated an exposure value of more than $46 million to the school. Selected by the Buffalo Bills with the 7th pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, he has continued to bring positive attention to the University during his stellar NFL career and was recently named the 2024-25 NFL Most Valuable Player. 

After a sparkling career at Wyoming, Allen got the attention of the Senior Bowl, earning an invite to the premier college football scouting event. He shined, and his draft stock soared. Brandon Beane traded up to select Allen, and the rest is history. 

Allen is the unquestioned pillar of Buffalo. He is the cornerstone of the franchise, and his recent NFL MVP only gives validation to what all of Buffalo already knows — Allen is the Buffalo Bills. Now he'll be enshrined by the school that gave him a chance, as he continues his goal of bringing the Lombardi Trophy back to western New York.

Follow along all year for more Buffalo Bills coverage on A to Z Sports. You can find me on Bluesky @jonhelmkamp.bsky.social, and make sure to follow our main page @AtoZSports.bsky.social for all the latest news.

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