Syracuse Football: 2022 3-star RB LeQuint Allen ‘a natural in the backfield’

New Syracuse football 2022 recruit LeQuint Allen, who verbally committed to the Orange on Friday night via Twitter, “is a rock solid recruiting win” for the ‘Cuse and head coach Dino Babers, according to an analyst.

The 6-foot-0 running back, a junior at Millville High School in Millville, N.J., selected Syracuse football from a top six that also included Virginia, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, West Virginia and Temple.

Prior to Allen announcing his collegiate destination, multiple analysts on the 247Sports Web site and Rivals.com projected that he would pick the Orange, so Allen’s decision doesn’t come as a complete surprise.

With Allen on board, Syracuse football now has two verbal commitments in its 2022 cycle. The other pledge, which occurred in mid-February, is from three-star Cornell Perry. The 6-foot-1 Perry, who plays both defensive back and wide receiver, is a junior at Woodhaven High School in Brownstown, Mich.

The 247Sports Composite presently ranks the three-star Allen at No. 913 overall in his class, as well as No. 68 at running back and No. 24 in New Jersey.

The 247Sports recruiting service rates Allen as No. 96 at running back and No. 31 in New Jersey. Finally, Rivals.com says that Allen is the No. 47 running back and the No. 17 player in New Jersey within the 2022 class.

Syracuse football has secured 2022 three-star running back LeQuint Allen.

"John Garcia Jr., the director of football recruiting for Sports Illustrated, has provided insights on Allen in an article. Garcia said, in part, “The junior is a natural in the backfield, specializing in one-cut ability, breaking tackles and chunk yardage thanks to well above average vision. Successful backs know when to press and play patiently, something Allen’s instincts allow given the play-call, something that pairs well with a general quickness and ability to make the primary tackler miss. Allen works with minimal wasted movement, featuring a jump-cut, dead leg and old-school cross slap in getting by first contact.”"

Garcia noted that Allen “moonlights as a defensive back,” adding that the new Orange commit’s “work on defense showcases spacial awareness and ball skills, the type of traits to factor into the passing and/or return game on Saturdays. The lateral game and power through contact can allow for natural yards after the catch, but Allen is a willing pass-protector or lead blocker out of the backfield, too. This is where vision, instincts and a bit of a desire for that pad pop that shows itself on defense.”

As far as where Allen can continue to improve, Garcia said “there is a lack of high-end speed based on available tape. There may not be a true home run threat every time Allen touches the football but he has the right combination of quickness and grit to pick up consistent yardage. We expect him to fill out his frame and embrace the physical, decisive style he runs with over the next year or two, so there is a ceiling for evolution into a classic downhill running back before his Syracuse career comes to a close.”

Welcome to ‘Cuse Nation, LeQuint!