The Buffalo Bills made a franchise-altering decision when they traded up to select Josh Allen with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Now in his seventh season as the team’s starting quarterback, Allen has solidified his place among the NFL’s elite. But his journey to the top was anything but smooth.
Where Did Josh Allen Go to College?
Due to an unheralded high school career, Allen had to begin his collegiate journey at Reedley College before spending his final three years at Wyoming.
Allen was raised on a 3,000-acre cotton farm in Firebaugh, a small town nestled 40 miles west of Fresno, California. He grew up a Fresno State fan and regularly attended the program’s home games and football camps.
Yet, despite starring as a three-sport athlete at Firebaugh High School, where he led the basketball team in scoring and hit 90 mph as a pitcher, the Bulldogs didn’t offer him a scholarship. In fact, Allen received zero Division I offers, with San Diego State proposing he walk on with the program.
So, Allen took his talents to Reedley College, a JUCO just 60 miles east of his hometown. He didn’t play in the team’s first three games, but after coming off the bench to score four rushing touchdowns, the starting job was his.
Allen finished the season with 26 passing touchdowns (No. 7 among California JUCO quarterbacks) and 2,055 passing yards (No. 20) while adding 660 yards and 10 scores on the ground, highlighting his dual-threat ability.
Toward the end of the season, Allen emailed every FBS head coach, offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, and QBs coach, but only a few schools showed interest. Eastern Michigan and Wyoming were the only ones to offer scholarships, but EMU rescinded its offer when Allen visited the Cowboys.
Wyoming’s coaches first visited Reedley to scout another transfer but were swayed by Dave Brown, a former Fresno State assistant who was on the staff. Brown knew Allen and urged offensive coordinator Brent Vigen to recruit him.
Vigen saw similarities between Allen and Carson Wentz — size, athletic ability, arm talent, and small-town background — who he had previously recruited at North Dakota State.
Craig Bohl, the only FBS head coach to visit Allen’s family farm, told Allen’s father, “We went all around the country, and there’s only one quarterback we want, and that’s your son. He’s going to be the face of our program.”
Despite Wyoming’s offer, Allen made a final attempt to persuade Fresno State, but when he was rejected again, he committed to the Cowboys and enrolled before the 2015 season.
In his first year in Laramie, Allen entered the season as the backup to Cameron Coffman. But after Coffman suffered a knee injury in Week 1, Allen received the first-team nod against the only other team to show interest in him: Eastern Michigan.
On his very first drive, Allen led the Cowboys 84 yards in eight plays, resulting in a touchdown. However, on the fifth play of his second drive, Allen ran for 24 yards but landed hard on his shoulder, breaking his collarbone. The injury ended his season, forcing him to take a medical redshirt.
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Allen came back with a vengeance as the starter in 2016, throwing for over 3,200 yards and 28 TDs rushing for 523 yards and seven scores. He contemplated declaring for the 2017 NFL Draft, but after speaking with Wyoming’s staff and even Wentz, Allen ultimately decided to return for his senior season.
Unfortunately, the injury bug bit him again. Allen suffered an injury to his throwing shoulder, causing him to miss two games. He still threw for 1,812 yards and 16 touchdowns against just six interceptions, earning an invite to the Senior Bowl.
As they say, the rest is history — which is exactly what Allen achieved at Wyoming:
- 127.78 single-season passing efficiency, 2016 (1st)
- 3,726 single-season total yards, 2016 (3rd)
- 44 career passing TDs (5th)
- 3,203 single-season passing yards, 2016 (5th)
- 365 career completions (10th)
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