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The “LeQuint Allen Jr. Football and Cheer Camp” was launched just before Allen’s freshman year at Syracuse.

When his former Millville Midget Football League coach, JT Burks, introduced the idea, Allen was interested. He wanted to give back to Millville, New Jersey, from a young age. Succeeding in football was always synonymous with serving his community.

Burks sent Allen the design for the camp’s fliers, which read “LeQuint Allen.” Allen told him to add “Jr.” on the end to honor his father, who always preached giving back to the youth.

Less than a year later, LeQuint Allen Sr. was shot and killed at a home in Lawrence Township, NJ, on Feb. 14, 2023. According to syracuse.com, it happened just after Allen Jr. learned he was being investigated by SU’s Office of Community Standards for an on-campus altercation that took place on Dec. 11, 2022. Now, Allen Jr. is back on the field, carrying the legacy of his father with “Allen Jr.” on his back.

“For him to wear his father’s name means the world to him,” said Dennis Thomas, Allen Jr.’s high school coach. “He wants to make a name not only for himself, but to show them what his father actually helped instill in him.”

His father attended every game and practice he could, and Allen Jr. said they’d try to talk before each one. Allen Sr. told his son to focus on his dreams and he’d “overcome everything,” Allen Jr. said.

Roughly six months after his father’s death, Allen Jr. was suspended by Syracuse University, likely barring him from playing in 2023. He sued the school to retain his eligibility. Burks wasn’t sure if the camp would happen.

On July 12, 2023, an SU spokesperson confirmed to syracuse.com that the two sides had reached an agreement, reinstating Allen Jr. just two weeks before the camp began.

LeQuint Allen Jr. coaches five kids at his football camp in Millville, NJ on July 29. Dave Hernandez | For NJ Advance Media

Allen Jr. was adamant about running it regardless of his situation. In fact, his hardships made it more important to have the camp, Burks said, to show kids that there’s always a way out.

“He really showed the importance of perseverance through everything going on in his life,” Burks said. “Just around our area there’s an uptick in guns and things like that. That’s another reason we wanted to persevere through having a camp, to kind of show solidarity amongst the youth here.”

Weeks prior to this year’s camp, 14-year-old Trah’Zir Bennett, who played in the same youth football league as Allen Jr., was shot and killed. Because of that, Allen Jr. wanted the whole community to come together on the football field.

Even when Allen Jr. didn’t have the platform, he sought out individuals to help in any way he could. In high school, Thomas said Allen Jr. chopped firewood at people’s farms to help them prepare for the winter. He painted people’s shutters and rain gutters. He raked yards and cut grass. Whatever they needed, he’d do it at no charge, just “out of the love of his heart,” Thomas said.

When Allen Jr. won a $1,000 prize with his New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year Award in 2023, he donated it back to the Millville Midget Football League.

“He loves to see the development of individuals, not just on the field, but off the field,” Thomas said. “He was one of those kids who had to change. He had to become a man. He loves seeing that and instilling that into the young kids to let them know that it’s not just about the football field.”

• • •

Allen Sr. served multiple sentences for crimes during Allen Jr.’s youth career, according to New Jersey court records. Allen Sr. missed some of his son’s games because of that, but their bond remained strong.

“Even if he wasn’t there, I’d talk to him before the games and have motivational talks,” Allen Jr. said. “So he was always there [for me], even if he wasn’t there in person.”

Last year, Allen Sr. went to Yankee Stadium to watch his son make his first SU start. Filling in for Sean Tucker, Allen Jr. racked up 154 total yards in the loss to Minnesota. He also set a Syracuse Bowl game record with 11 receptions, surpassing NFL Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison’s record of seven.

Afterward, Allen Jr. shared a heartfelt moment with his dad. It seemed like everything was coming together for Allen Jr. But, less than three months later, he dealt with his father’s death and the suspension from SU.

Allen Jr. said he leaned on his faith through the tough time. Allen Sr. taught him to be strong, and “always made sure my head was right,” so that’s what he did. He continued committing himself to his community and striving for greatness, now carrying his father’s legacy.

“Everyone doesn’t have ‘LeQuint,’ so when you hear ‘LeQuint,’ it’s either me or him,” Allen Jr. said. “He’s not here no more, but with that ‘Jr.,’ I’m his seed. That’s my twin.”

In Allen Jr.’s community, a lot of kids didn’t have male role models. Although his father’s legal circumstance “wasn’t the best situation,” Allen Jr. said, his honesty and mentorship never wavered. Neither did Allen Jr.’s.

Even on 90-degree days in Millville, Allen Jr. was out there with the kids, guiding them through drills and giving pointers on reps, Burks said.

Last year, over 300 kids came to Allen Jr.’s camp for football and cheerleading drills. Adding in cheer was significant for Allen Jr., Burks said, to emphasize that everyone has a path to success through sports. This year’s camp was smaller because the planning was delayed, but they still hosted over 100 kids.

“Being in the position I am right now, I want to do that,” Allen Jr. said of giving back to the youth. “Growing up, that’s something I wanted to do. So, being able to do that and run it, it means a lot. To have that support, it means a lot.”

He’s a larger-than-life figure there, Thomas said. Whenever Allen Jr. comes back to Millville, people get excited. He attends high school and youth games, where he hardly gets a moment to himself. But if his presence is all that’s needed to make the kids excited to play sports, then he’ll be there, because “that’s just the type of person he is,” Thomas said.

“These kids are like, ‘man, we got a superstar on our sideline. He’s coming to see me,’” Thomas said. “That’s huge to have the starting running back for Syracuse University on the sideline to come watch you play football. He doesn’t have to do it, but he does.”

Published on September 14, 2023 at 1:11 am

Contact Wyatt: wbmiller@syr.edu