Falcons looking at record-setting D-II RB from HBCU ranks

Falcons looking at record-setting D-II RB from HBCU ranks originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Atlanta Falcons have a superstar running back in Bijan Robinson, but a team can never have too much quality depth at the RB position.

That helps explain why the Falcons are bringing Virginia Union's Curtis Allen to rookie minicamp.

Allen joins TCU's Trent Battle as tryout running backs with the Falcons this weekend:

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Virginia Union is an HBCU that plays at the Division II level.

Allen was regarded as one of the top handful of HBCU products in the 2026 NFL Draft class, but only one player from that realm got drafted.

That has left Allen to try and prove himself in minicamp.

He ran for a D-II record 2,409 yards with 30 touchdowns in 2025, so at least for the level he was playing at, Allen couldn't have been much better.

Clearly, it's a big step up in competition to the NFL level, and that's why Allen didn't even get an undrafted free agent contract but instead just this invite to rookie minicamp.