Larry Allen

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Allen grew up in Compton, California, and had a troubled childhood, including contracting meningitis and almost dying at six weeks old, as well as being stabbed 12 times in the head, shoulder, and neck by a young neighbor while trying to protect his brother at the age of 10. He attended a different school in each of his four years of high school. As a freshman at Centennial High School in Compton, Allen lettered in football. For his sophomore year, he attended Tokay High School in Lodi. As a junior, Allen transferred to Edison High School in Stockton. He finished high school at Vintage High School in Napa, California, but did not graduate. Allen was not academically eligible to play NCAA Division I football, so he attended Butte College in Oroville, California. In each of his two years at Butte, the team went 10–1 while winning the Golden Valley Conference, and Allen was named to the All-Conference and All-State teams both seasons. Allen was also recognized as a J.C. All-American after his sophomore year. Allen did not attend any school the following year. After a year away from school, he enrolled at Sonoma State University, a Division II school north of San Francisco. In two years with the Cossacks, Allen gave up just one sack and was a two-time All-American. The Cossacks were primarily a passing team and established 10 new school records, including most yards gained, most touchdown passes, best gain-per-completion rate and highest passing efficiency. During Allen's senior season, the team set a school mark with 334 rushing yards against the Cal State Hayward Pioneers. As a senior, he participated in the East–West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl.

In Their Own Story

The season opener against the New York Giants on September 4 marked Allen's first NFL start at right guard. He helped the Cowboys offense record 459 yards, including 230 rushing. His dominance continued into the playoffs; in his first postseason game against the Green Bay Packers on January 8, he earned a game ball as Troy Aikman completed 23 of 30 passes for 337 yards and the team gained 450 total yards. Allen played through a sprained left ankle but left the NFC Championship Game in San Francisco after three quarters due to the injury. By 1996, Allen had secured his only Super Bowl appearance on January 28, starting as the Cowboys defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 27–17. His versatility shone again in 1997 when he was moved between guard and tackle, earning a third consecutive Pro Bowl selection at guard despite playing left tackle for much of the season after injuries to teammates. In 1998, Allen became just the third player in league history selected to the Pro Bowl at more than one offensive line position (tackle), anchoring an elite line that allowed only 19 sacks on 493 pass plays. His blocking helped Emmitt Smith record seven 100-yard rushing games that season.

Reader's Guide

Allen's stock dropped in the 1994 NFL draft because of his small-school background and a rotator cuff injury. Allen was the tenth offensive lineman selected in the draft and the first player ever chosen from Sonoma State. He was selected in the second round (46th overall), which marked the highest offensive lineman selection by the Cowboys since Howard Richards in 1981. In 1994, Allen started 10 regular-season games rotating between guard and tackle. During the season, he tied Burton Lawless in 1975 and Kevin Gogan in 1987, for the most starts on the offensive line as a rookie in club history at the time; Flozell Adams broke the record in 1998. Allen helped Dallas establish a then team record by allowing just 20 sacks totaling just 93 yards (fewest in the NFL) while earning all-rookie honors. Allen was forced into a starting spot just four games into his rookie season when Mark Tuinei suffered back spasms on the road against the Washington Redskins. He received the game ball for helping keep the Redskins sackless for the game. He recorded his first NFL start at left tackle, replacing an injured Tuinei against the Arizona Cardinals. This marked the first time a rookie offensive lineman had started for Dallas since November 24, 1991, when Erik Williams started at right tackle against the Redskins. Allen returned to a back-up role for the next two weeks, but early in the morning on October 24, Williams was injured in an automobile accident and was out for the rest of the season, after which Allen was permanently moved into the starting lineup at Williams' right tackle position beginning with a game at Cincinnati on October 30. He received the game ball, along with Tuinei, for helping hold the New Orleans Saints without a sack in a Monday night win in New Orleans on December 19. In that Monday night contest, the 325-lb. Allen shocked the Saints by running down linebacker Darion Conner from behind on an interception return early in the game, as Allen was beginning from a standing start at the moment of the interception. The game's announcers (Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, and Dan Dierdorf) talked more about Allen's amazing feat than the actual interception. In his first playoffs, Allen received the game ball against the Green Bay Packers on January 8, when the Dallas offense recorded 450 total yards and Troy Aikman completed 23 of 30 passes for 337 yards. Allen spr

Did You Know?

• Allen was stabbed 12 times in the head, shoulder, and neck at age 10 while trying to protect his brother.
• He attended a different high school in each of his four years of high school but did not graduate.
• Allen was the first player ever selected in the NFL draft from Sonoma State University.
• In a 1994 Monday night game, the 325-lb. Allen ran down linebacker Darion Conner from behind on an interception return, a feat the announcers talked about more than the interception itself.
• Allen became just the third player in league history to be selected to the Pro Bowl at more than one offensive line position.