Shreveport, La. • Tyler Allgeier grew up idolizing former Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, a 12-year NFL veteran who held the nickname “Beast Mode.” The BYU sophomore running back loved the way Lynch pounded his way through defensive lines.
Allgeier has bean been a beast in his own right with the Cougars. In a breakout 2021 season, he tied for first in the country in rushing touchdowns (23) and ended the season with 1,601 rushing yards, breaking BYU’s single-season record.
BYU finished the season with a disappointing loss to the University of Alabama at Birmingham in the Independence Bowl. Now Allgeier has to decide whether he’ll return for another year in a Cougars uniform or declare for the NFL Draft in hopes of following in Lynch’s footsteps.
“We’ll see what happens,” Allgeier said after Saturday’s bowl game when asked about his decision timeline. “Probably, most likely — Actually, I’ll keep you guys guessing.”
What Allgeier decides to do — and when — is indeed anybody’s guess. But decision looms large on the program as a whole due to his impact throughout the season.
The 5-foot-11, 220-pound running back was the lone bright spot in BYU’s loss to UAB. His strength, athleticism and ability to find seams in the defense would certainly be coveted at the NFL level.
But the Cougars also want him back. Tight end Masen Wake took to Twitter to lobby for his teammate’s return.
“All i want for Christmas is 1 more year with @tylerallgeier17,” Wake wrote.
Allgeier isn’t the only BYU player who has to decide whether to return to declare for the draft. Gunner Romney is among those in that camp.
But the team and the fan base alike will all be waiting with bated breath to see what Allgeier decides.
“He has tons of football ahead of him,” Sitake said. “Who knows what jersey he’s going to be wearing? He’s got some decisions to make, but he knows we love him. We appreciate him and he’s got a bright future. So we’ll just see what happens.”
