USC legend and Heisman winner whose 1981 season broke every rushing record in college football.
Marcus LeMarr Allen was born in San Diego, California in 1960. He attended the University of Southern California where he began his career as a blocking back before emerging as one of the most prolific rushers in college football history. His 1981 season produced 2,342 rushing yards — the first time anyone had broken 2,000 rushing yards in a season at the time — and 23 touchdowns. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1981 by one of the largest margins in the award's history. His four-year USC career produced 4,682 yards and 46 touchdowns. He was the consensus All-American and won the Pac-10 title. His combination of speed, power and vision — the ability to read blocks and find creases before they fully opened — made him arguably the finest pure running technician of his college era. He was selected by the Los Angeles Raiders in the first round of the 1982 NFL Draft and went on to win the Super Bowl XVIII MVP. His NFL career — 12,243 rushing yards and the first player to rush for 10,000 yards and catch 5,000 passes — fulfilled every expectation his college career created.
Heisman Trophy (1981)
Career Honours
- Heisman Trophy (1981)
- NCAA rushing record (2,342 yards)
- Pac-10 title
- Consensus All-American