Cyrus Allen’s path to the NFL has been anything but straightforward, and that’s exactly what makes Steve Smith so bullish on him.
The former Cincinnati wideout went from a 3-star recruit out of Landry-Walker High School - ranked as the consensus 937th-best high school prospect with zero power-conference offers - to a player who steadily built his reputation at Louisiana Tech, stumbled a bit at Texas A&M, and then finally found his footing with the Bearcats.
At Louisiana Tech, Allen spent two seasons carving out a strong résumé outside the power ranks. He finished with 1,278 yards, eight touchdowns and 60.9 yards per game, production that showed he could be a real threat when given the chance.
His move to Texas A&M ahead of the 2024 season didn’t produce the same kind of breakthrough. Allen managed 269 yards, about 27 yards per game and one touchdown for the Aggies before making another transfer, this time to Cincinnati.
That stop changed everything. Last season, Allen put together his best college year by far, finishing with 674 yards on 51 catches and 13 touchdowns. He never went more than two games without a receiving score, and he closed the season with a touchdown in six of his final seven games.
Now with the Kansas City Chiefs, Allen has already flashed a little in the preseason. Through two appearances, he has 27 yards on five receptions and 10 targets.
Smith, speaking on “89 with Steve Smith Sr.,” went a step further and said Allen could eventually become Kansas City’s top receiver.
“Cyrus Allen is going to be, eventually, in my humble opinion, their number one wide receiver. Here's why," Smith said.
"Their quarterback has been wanting a guy like Cyrus Allen, who has the ability to run in the intermediate. Xavier Worthy's right here, Rasheed Rice is right here, and they got somebody in middle that they need, and that's Cyrus Allen.”
Kansas City finished last season with the 17th-best passing offense, throwing for 214.1 yards per game.
Allen may have to earn his place from the second string this year, but Smith knows the climb. Few voices can speak more clearly on what it takes to become a starter in this league than a former five-time Pro Bowler who made his living doing exactly that.
In Other News...
Bearcats Suddenly Face A Major MJ Collins Problem Before The Season
A late-summer eligibility fight has suddenly put Cincinnatis MJ Collins in limbo just as the Bearcats are trying to settle into preseason rhythm. An Ohio appeals court has suspended a ruling that had given Collins and Xaviers Filip Borovicanin a fifth year of eligibility, leaving both players ineligible to compete while the case works its way through the appeals process.
The timing is what makes this so awkward for Cincinnati. The original decision had blocked the NCAA from enforcing the new eligibility rules that shut out athletes who graduated high school in 2022, but that protection is now on hold. Oral arguments could come as soon as September 22, and until then the Bearcats have to plan without knowing whether Collins will be available when the games start to matter. [Read more 🡒]
Cincinnati Is Suddenly In The Mix For Proven Guard Help
Tre Hollomans decision to pursue a fifth year of eligibility has put a proven backcourt piece back on the market, and Cincinnati has quickly surfaced among the programs showing interest. After transferring from Michigan State to NC State, the guard is now in the portal again, with Utah State, St. Johns and Providence also said to be involved as teams look for experienced help to stabilize their perimeter rotations.
For Cincinnati, the appeal is easy to understand: a player with high-major experience who could step into a roster need without much runway. The Bearcats are among several programs weighing whether Hollomans background and fit make him the right answer, but with multiple schools in the hunt, this one figures to turn into a familiar transfer-market test of need, opportunity and timing. [Read more 🡒]
Former Bearcats Guard's Death Hit Cincinnati Basketball Close To Home
Cincinnati basketball was hit by sad news this week with the death of a former Bearcats guard whose years in the program left an impression that has lasted well beyond his playing days. He appeared in 57 games across the 1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons and earned a place on the 1998 All-Conference USA Tournament team, a reminder that his value to the program showed up at a meaningful point in Bearcats history.
The loss resonated inside the basketball family, where former teammate Alex Meacham and current coach Jerrod Calhoun both offered tributes that spoke to the respect Horton earned. Their remarks underscored how Cincinnati still feels connected to players from that era, with the program continuing to look back on the people who helped shape it and keep its identity rooted in more than just what happens on the court. [Read more 🡒]