From James Alder,
Your Guide to Football.
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Coming out of Abraham Lincoln high school in San Diego California, Marcus Allen was considered a pretty good quarterback, throwing for 1,900 yards and running for 1,198 his senior year, but the University of Southern California wanted to turn him into a defensive back. Ultimately, he returned to the offensive side of the ball and proceeded to run wild over his college competition.

In 1981, Allen became the first college football player to break the 2,000 yard barrier, rushing for 2,342 yards. His incredible season included a five-game stretch where he topped the 200-yard mark. He also set the record for rushing touchdowns with 22 and took home the Heisman Trophy.

Allen was taken 10th overall in the 1982 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders and he began his pro career by being named the NFL Rookie of the Year. Over his 16-year career, 11 years with the Raiders and five with the Kansas City Chiefs, he rushed for a record (at the time of his retirement) 123 touchdowns, carried the ball 3,022 times for 12,243 yards, and had 5,411 yards receiving. In Super Bowl XVIII, he shredded the Washington Redskins defense for a then Super Bowl record 191 yards that included a thrilling 74-yard run.

Career Highlights:
Heisman Trophy - 1981
Walter Camp Award - 1981
Pac-10 Player of the Year - 1981
All-Pac 10 - 1980, 1981
NFL Rookie of the Year - 1982
Super Bowl XVIII MVP
NFL MVP - 1985
All-Pro - 1982, 1985
Named to six Pro Bowls - 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1994
Comeback Player of the Year - 1993
Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame - 2000
Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003