Josh Allen grew up on a 3,000-acre farm in a small town of about 8,000 people.
Travis Clayton’s first impression of the leading candidate for the 2024 NFL MVP connected Allen with his humble Firebaugh, California roots.
Josh Allen stays humble while proving doubters wrong[/caption]
“Josh is a great guy,” Clayton, a Buffalo Bills rookie, exclusively told talkSPORT.
“When I first came through the building, he introduced himself to me. He’s just an amazing person, overall.”
On Sunday Night Football, a snow-covered Allen became the first quarterback in NFL history to catch, throw and run for a touchdown in the same game.
He stands 6ft 5in and weighs 237lb, has a golf simulator in his basement, and recently became engaged to actress/singer Hailee Steinfeld.
But Allen is also the same QB who was ignored by almost every college in America, and was forced to send out mass emails in the hope of landing a football scholarship.
“Hello coach, my name is Josh Allen and I am a quarterback at Reedley JC out of California,” Allen wrote.
“(I) feel like I would be a great fit in your offensive scheme. Please have a look at my hudl (highlights).
“Please get back to me at any convenience!”
Clayton, who hails from Basingstoke, said that the QB hoping to bring the Bills Mafia its first Super Bowl victory is “absolutely” humble.
Allen is also as talented in person as he is to all the fans watching his social media highlights.
Wyoming took a chance on Allen when every other college passed on the QB[/caption]
In 2024, the Bills are 10-2 and pushing for the AFC’s top playoff seed[/caption]
Allen paired with coach Sean McDermott to make snow angels in Buffalo[/caption]
He can juggle, lists Kobe Bryant‘s ‘The Mamba Mentality’ as his favorite book, and met childhood idol Tiger Woods at the 2023 Genesis Invitational.
This year, the 28-year-old Allen ranks second in the NFL in quarterback rating (74.5) and is trying to overcome five consecutive years of playoff frustration, including three painful defeats to Patrick Mahomes‘ Kansas City Chiefs dynasty.
“Everyone can see from watching football on TV the ability he has is just off the scale,” said Clayton, a 2024 seventh-round pick.
“He is truly an unbelievable footballer.”
As for Clayton, the former rugby player is trying to soak up as much NFL information as possible while working his way off injured reserve.
The England native has remained close to his Bills teammates as the Super Bowl draws near.
“Everything’s been great,” Clayton said.
“I am nine or 10 weeks post surgery, so I’m just in the process now of trying to build that strength within my shoulder.
“And then I just continuously keep looking at my playbook, making sure that I’m still keeping in line with what the guys are doing off the field and on the field.”
Allen is battling the Philadelphia Eagles‘ Saquon Barkley and Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson for his first MVP award.
With Buffalo at 10-2 and already waiting for the playoffs, the AFC East champions five years running is only focused on one goal.
The same goal that drives Allen, all the way from Firebaugh and Hudl highlights to the Superdome in New Orleans.
Allen, center, has small town roots[/caption]
Nine years ago, Allen posted an 8-minute clip of his own junior college highlights.
He had 79 followers and only followed one account, Reedley College, which is located between San Francisco, Los Angeles and Sequoia National Park.
“Every piece of empirical evidence we have on Allen leads to him being a failure,” was written about the small-town QB in 2018.
Six years later, Allen is leading the Bills on a $258 million contract and reminding everyone the unproven gunslinger from Wyoming should have been the No. 1 overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.
“Our main goal is to get to the Super Bowl,” Clayton said.
“I think everyone can see that we have a really strong team here and we have the best fans in the world.
“The Bills Mafia, everyone knows how crazy they are. The vibe in Buffalo at the minute is just insane.”
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