Bills Central

Josh Allen's college coach uses old QB film to inspire current MSU players

Brent Vigen, now head coach at Montana State, saw Josh Allen's development from the very beginning and uses the MVP's example to inspire his current players.

Brian Letscher

Feb 6, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen poses wtih the Most Valuable Player award.
Feb 6, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen poses wtih the Most Valuable Player award. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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A bit more than a week ago, Josh Allen stood on the stage at NFL Honors in New Orleans and accepted the NFL's Most Valuable Player award. The honor highlighted a rise to greatness that undoubtedly stunned the many draftniks who labeled the No. 7 overall selection as a "boom-or-bust" prospect in 2018.

Allen has been an underdog since he came out of high school in Firebaugh, California, unranked and unstarred on all the big recruiting websites. He wound up at Reedley College — a junior college — and played well enough to attract the attention of a single Division I FBS program — Wyoming.

Brent Vigen, now Montana State's head coach, was Wyoming's offensive coordinator at the time and he recently spoke to Ryan O'Halloran of the Buffalo News about Allen's evolution.

“The fact we came across him and gave him the opportunity that was a big catalyst, I’m fortunate our paths crossed,” Vigen told Halloran. “Knowing where he was at – wow, that’s 10 years ago now – that’s a tribute to him.”

Josh Allen
Apr 26, 2018; Arlington, TX, USA; Josh Allen is selected as the number seven overall pick to the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. / Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images

Vigen is so proud of Allen that uses the MVP's journey to inspire young players on their individual developmental paths by showing them film cuts of the quarterback's first scrimmage at Wyoming in 2015.

RELATED: NFL MVP Josh Allen's simple on-stage message shows immense gratitude

Allen's rise from unheralded recruit to NFL MVP has been one of determination, faith and a commitment to grow. A message that Vigen continues to deliver to young players today. As for Allen and the Bills, no doubt they're plan is to ride that philosophy all the way to the Super Bowl.

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Josh Allen
Nov 11, 2017; Colorado Springs, CO, USA; Wyoming Cowboys quarterback Josh Allen (17) attempts a pass. / Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

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Brian Letscher
BRIAN LETSCHER

A Michigan native, Brian graduated from the University of Michigan in another century, where he earned a degree in economics and a Rose Bowl Championship ring while playing football for the Wolverines under Head Coach Gary Moeller. Brian went on to coach Division 1A football for several years before becoming a full-time writer and actor while maintaining an unhealthy interest in sports. He is currently developing a scripted television series, THOSE WHO STAY, based on a series of historical fiction articles he wrote about Bo Schembechler's Michigan football program as they struggle to unite and win the championship - which requires beating #1 Ohio State - during the tumultuous civil rights and anti-war movements of 1969.

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