Class: 2008 Big Board
Pros: He has good size, very good speed and is capable of running between the tackles as well as breaking one for long distance. Not many backs can combine strength and speed like this Sooner can. Patrick runs hard and does not shy away from contact, doing a good job of falling forward and getting that extra half a yard. Last season, he out-jumped Adrian Peterson in the spring drills and he is a workout warrior. No other senior back matches up with him physically. Patrick is a straight-ahead no-nonsense runner with a quick burst thru the hole, and is capable of going from 0-to-60 quicker than most backs. He returned kicks in ’05 and has shown the willingness to block, which will help him get on the field earlier than some others. He has room to add another 10-15 pounds to his frame.
Cons: Consistency and experience are two categories Patrick needs to work on, particularly when it comes to catching the ball out of the backfield. Patrick isn’t a crisp route runner, nor has he displayed reliable hands. He began his career in Norman on the defensive side of the ball and at times it is painfully apparent, as his vision is not always there. This sometimes causes him to take too long to make a decision, often leading to a negative play. Despite never reaching 185 carries in a season, he seems to get dinged up pretty easily, which makes one question how much of the load he can carry. He has limited agility.
Overall: As a junior college transfer, Patrick came to Norman as a defensive back, switched to running back and allowed the Sooners to not miss a beat even when star tailback Adrian Peterson went out in 2006. Patrick’s biggest problem might have been that he played on a balanced offense in a crowded backfield, first playing behind a workhorse in Peterson then sharing carries with top-notch freshman DeMarco Murray this past season. He’s not a flashy runner, but is usually productive when he gets an opportunity. Because his playing time has been so inconsistent, it is difficult to evaluate Patrick--at times he appears to have star potential, and at others he looks a step slow, failing to impress. He’s a boom or bust type prospect.
X-Factor: Patrick has rushed for 20 carries or more just four times in his career, but he appears to be one of those backs that get better as the game goes along. In 2006, while filling in for Peterson, Patrick carried the football 102 times over a three game stretch and rushed for 440 yards, but an injury forced him to miss the next two games. When he returned, Patrick carried the ball 23 times in Stillwater and ran for 163 yards against Oklahoma St. averaging 7.1 yards per carry. This season, again in the “Bedlam” game against Oklahoma’s in-state rival, Patrick took a season high 29 carries for a career-best 202 yards. His 7.0 yards per carry was his second best of the season (14.1 yards per carry against Utah St. on eight carries). His second highest total of the season (19 carries at Tulsa) also begat his second best yards per carry game (7.6 of the season).
Factoid: His father Roland owns a brick masonry, and Allen attributes his toughness to assisting in the family trade.
Medical Examiner:
• 2004—Fibula: Suffered a broken fibula while at junior college; missed several games and was granted medical hardship.
• 11/4/06—Ankle: Suffered a sprained right ankle, missed two games.
• 8/8/07—Ankle: Sprained right ankle during summer practice; missed several weeks of practice and one game.
Highlights of Accomplishments:
• 2006 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention
Junior College: Played safety at Independence (KS) Community College, received honors of 2004 First Team Jayhawk All-Conference.
High School: Attended Conway High School in Conway, SC, where he played defensive back, running back, and kick returner. Notched First Team All-State honors in 2003 and participated in the 2002 Shrine Bowl.
Major: <none listed>
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