Oregon WR Devon Allen forgoes NCAA eligibility, turns pro in track

Devon Allen will forego the remainder of his NCAA eligibility to turn professional in track and field.

Oregon wide receiver and Olympian Devon Allen has decided to forego his remaining NCAA eligibility and turn professional in track and field, he announced on Wednesday.

“I recognize that my success to date has been the result of the contributions of many who have supported me along this journey,” Allen said in a press release. “I wish to express my sincere gratitude to my family, coaches, teammates, school administrators, friends, classmates and all the fans who made competing at Autzen Stadium and Hayward Field some of the most unforgettable experiences I could ever imagine.”

Allen, 21, played three games on the season and caught four passes for 141 yards and a touchdown before tearing his ACL and being forced to miss the remainder of the season. He previously tore his ACL in the 2015 Rose Bowl and was unable to compete in the 2015 outdoor track and field season.

Allen says that he hopes to focus on track for the next “three to four years” with the goal of winning a gold medal. He will remain in Eugene to train under coach Jamie Cook.

Allen believes that he may be ready to compete at the 2017 U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships in late June.

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He returned to track and field in 2016 and won the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in the 110-meter hurdles to qualify for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He finished fifth in the Olympic final and returned to Oregon for football training camp a week later.

Oregon is 3–7 on the season.

- Chris Chavez