Report: Devon Allen looking into pro track career while playing football
Oregon wide receiver and Olympic hurdler Devon Allen could run track professionally while still being able to play college football.
Allen is representing the United States in the 110-meter hurdles at the Rio Olympics. He won the event at the Olympic Trials in Eugene, where the University of Oregon is located.
Per the Eugene Register-Guard, he’s exploring the idea of running professionally. According to the chief compliance officer for the school, it’s possible for Allen to turn pro after the Olympics in track while keeping his football eligibility. He’s the NCAA champion in both the 110-meter and 60-meter hurdles.
“The contract has to be very specifically worded,” Jodi Sykes said via the Register-Guard. “But as long as he doesn’t sign any endorsements or agree to any endorsement contracts until he’s done with his football eligibility, he’ll be fine.”
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The lack of endorsements is what would makes Allen’s situation different from the one former Colorado wide receiver Jeremy Bloom faced in his fight with the NCAA over his eligibility. Bloom received endorsements from his freestyle moguls skiing career and had his appeal with the NCAA denied.
Bloom had said he couldn’t prep for the 2006 Winter Olympics if he didn’t have endorsement money. The NCAA contended he knew he was violating NCAA rules by taking endorsement money.
Allen’s Rio Olympic 110-meter hurdle races will be contested on Aug. 15 and 16. He’s planning to rejoin the football teak after the Olympics conclude and will be a redshirt junior in 2016. Allen had nine catches for 94 yards in 2015 and led the team with 440 yards receiving in 2014.
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
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