Temple University Athletics
On The Right Track
9.6.24 | Football
Ashton Allen, a former track standout at the University of Southern California (USC) is embarking on a new chapter in his athletic career by transferring to Temple University, but not for track, for football. Although he was born in Chester, Pa, but primarily raised in Maryland, Allen is not new to the city of Philadelphia. During his time at USC, he accomplished a lot, showcasing the qualities that make him an ideal addition to Temple's Football program.
Ashton comes from a family of athletes, with two of his brothers, Eric and Austin, going on to run track for USC. A 2020 graduate of Bullis High School in Potomac, Md, Allen set impressive personal records, including a time of 20.84 in the 200M and a time of 46.99 in the 400M. In 2019, he earned a second place finish in the 200M at the New Balance Nationals with a time of 20.76. Allen's achievements include being named the Maryland Gatorade Track and Field Athlete of the Year. He currently still holds the Maryland indoor record in the 400M and the outdoor record in the 200M. Additionally, he set a national record in the 4x200M relay and a world junior record in the 4x400M relay.
Allen's interest in USC arose from its rich history of producing elite athletes and its well-respected academic reputation. When he joined the team at USC in 2021, he primarily focused on the 400M, consistently performing at a high level. He finished in the top 10 at three of the four meets he participated in, ending the season with a personal best of 45.88 at the Florida Relays. In 2022, Allen pushed himself to improve more from the year before. On June 10, he helped secure an NCAA title with a time of 38.49 in the 4x100M relay. At the West Regionals, Allen's team finished with a time of 38.71, earning second-place.
In 2023, he won the 200M at the USC-UCLA dual meet, with a time of 20.86. He went on to set a personal record of 20.59 in 200M at the Pac-12 Championship, and placed fifth. Allen also participated in the 200m at the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds and made it to the NCAA Quarterfinals. Additionally, he ran on the USC 4x100M relays at the NCAA Championship where they placed ninth with a season-best time of 38.75, tying for fifth in USC history.
Allen had always dreamed of playing football after high school. Despite receiving offers for both track and football, many colleges only recruited him for one sport. Unfortunately due to few schools offering him the opportunity to pursue both, he chose to begin his collegiate career in track and field at USC. While he enjoyed his time there, Allen was eager to find a new place to call home. "I wanted to find the right place to develop me into the football player I can be," he explained, adding, "I was looking to get back into the football rhythm," when discussing the challenges of his transition.
While track and football are different sports, there are similarities in training and conditioning. Allen noted that his speed, discipline, and focus have been key assets during his transition to football. He describes himself as a responsible student-athlete, carefully setting reminders, staying organized, and approaching every day as an opportunity for improvement. When asked how he balances the demands of being a student-athlete, Allen shared that he keeps a clear distinction between the two. "When I'm at football practice, I focus solely on football. And when I'm in class, my attention is entirely on my studies," he explained.
Allen is adjusting well to life in Philadelphia, noting some similarities to Los Angeles. However, he admits that transitioning back to a team sport like football has been somewhat overwhelming compared to track, where the focus is primarily individual. Allen says, "It's more of a team sport so you're one piece of a complex puzzle, and it's important to make sure you're doing your job because there's people counting on you. Track is more training for yourself." Despite the challenges, Allen gives a shout-out to his teammates for helping him feel at home and easing the adjustment process.
Looking ahead, Allen says that he would eventually like to make it to the National Football League, and has aspirations of going to medical school to become a doctor. He has high hopes for Temple Football this season, expressing a strong will to win every game. Touching on the recent loss to Oklahoma, he said, "That loss was a minor setback for a major comeback." He's especially excited to face Navy, as he grew up in Maryland. Temple is set to play Navy on September 7, with kickoff at 3:30 PM at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md.
