Running Back Watch: 5 Rookies that are Flying Up the Depth Chart

Tyler Allgeier (Atlanta Falcons)

The BYU Cougars are not exactly a hotbed of NFL talent, but that has slowly started to change over recent seasons. The newest BYU addition to the NFL is running back, Tyler Allgeier. Allgeier began his collegiate career as a running back, then moved to linebacker in year two, before moving back to running back for his final two seasons on campus.

Allgeier put up some stunning numbers as a member of the Cougars. He has a career 6.4 yards-per-carry number, and had a nose for the end zone with 36 rushing touchdowns combined in 2020 and 2021. Even with these numbers, Allgeier suffered a tumble down the draft board. In round five, his dream would finally come true.

The Atlanta Falcons selected the versatile BYU running back with the No. 151 overall pick in the draft. He immediately entered a wide-open battle for the top spot in the running back room. Their breakout star from 2021, Cordarelle Patterson, came into the offseason as the favorite to start, but Allgeier has quickly closed that gap with the veteran offensive weapon.

He has been among the hardest workers in Atlanta thus far, showing up early and leaving late consistently. The work has shown both in training camp and in the preseason games. Allgeier closed out the first game against the Lions but ended up playing a lot of snaps with the first team against the Jets. The numbers won’t jump out at you, but if you watch a replay of the game, you’ll notice how much of a difference Allgeier made.

Allgeier runs with a full head of steam every time he totes the rock, and this is evident when you see him barrel through initial contact. He is never afraid to get his nose dirty in a pile. Perhaps the most intriguing part of Allgeier’s performance this offseason is how well he’s done as a pass catcher. He may not produce the all-around numbers that Patterson did in 2021, but he is already a much better pure runner.