Photo by: Hannahally Photography
Allen is One-of-a-Kind
11/18/2021 12:21:00 PM | Football, Student Athlete, Features
By: Justin Lafleur, Lehigh Sports Communications
What can't RaShawn Allen do?
The Canton, Michigan native has found a way to excel as an electrical engineering major and Division I football standout, while also serving as a founder of Student-Athletes and Color.
Oh, and he's also written two novels.
To say the Lehigh football senior running back is one-of-a-kind would be an understatement.
"I say I'm one-of-one," he said. "There aren't many people doing the same things as me. But even so, writing is one of many things that make up who I am – same as engineering as well as football."
There are a lot of things that make up RaShawn Allen. On the football field, he made an immediate impact as a freshman – highlighted by 147 rushing yards at FBS Navy. Included was a 75-yard touchdown run on Lehigh's first play from scrimmage.
Tangible experiences aren't the only things that have highlighted Allen's career.
"I've learned to be a lot more process-oriented," he said. "Continuing to work on the process and the little details over the years has shaped me and allowed me to grow into who I am today."
Today, Allen is truly a model student-athlete who has helped lead the Mountain Hawks' program through admittedly a tough season. But throughout, Lehigh football has never quit and that's due in large part to the makeup of leaders like Allen.
"My leadership has definitely grown and altered as I've grown as a leader within the program," he said. "Right now, I lead more by example, then focus on the little details and understand what works for each individual on the team. Everybody has different things that drive and motivate them, so you have to understand and grow in your relationship with your teammates in order to leverage their needs and abilities to make them better."
Being process-oriented has not only helped Allen grow on a personal level, but it's also helped the Mountain Hawks stay focused as a team. The result is staying true to themselves and continuing to fight through any on-field struggles.
"From a mental standpoint, we're understanding the ins and outs of our game plan and what the offense or defense is running for that week," said Allen. "Understanding more about the opponent helps you play a little bit faster and actually slows the game down, which allows people to make more plays."
Allen embraces the cerebral parts of the game. He likes engineering because of its problem-solving nature, and that spills over onto the football field.
"I enjoy taking an issue or observation in engineering and working through it, whether it be calculations or experiments, and using the tools to solve that problem," said Allen. "On the field, it's the same idea. What is the issue we're facing, what are the steps we can take to solve the issue and what processes do we need to develop to take those steps into action?"
Allen has taken that same approach to other aspects of his life. One big initiative is as a founder of the Student-Athletes of Color Leadership Council
"SAOC is an organization created on campus to build up the community of student-athletes of color," he said. "I was one of the founding members and last year was our initial year conducting meetings. We had important discussions about what's happening in society, and people's responses. We just want to create an inclusive environment for student-athletes of color, which is a small group on campus, but very important to the athletics community and the campus community as a whole."
Allen and SAOC have also provided educational resources.
"We're getting a lot more participation and involvement from student-athletes as the organization is growing," he said. "We're just establishing ourselves as a group on campus and through Flight 45 (leadership program), which helps out with resources and gives us opportunities – whether it be mentorship or additional help we need."
An important goal for Student-Athletes of Color can be summed up in one word – inclusion.
"Inclusion is very important to me because you always want to feel welcome, even if you're around people who may not look like you, or be from the same cultural background," said Allen. "Being in an inclusive environment improves your mental state of mind and also improves people's experiences. We want to create the best experience for all student-athletes, and creating an inclusive environment is one step we can take."
Allen has also made a difference through two novels he's written.
"I like the ability to create stories, especially stories that inspire people, that draw questions about the world we live in and and a lot of things we see in our world today," he said.
Allen has been an avid reader from as long as he can remember, and always wanted to get into writing.
Allen's original novel is titled The Canton Greats.
"It's about two boys growing up in different circumstances and trying to overcome this overarching presence of fate in their lives," he said. "One of the main focuses in the book is on mental health. One [character] struggles with depression, a lot of mental disorders and then the opposite character has to face the outside struggles growing up in an impoverished environment, gangs and a lot of violence he sees growing up.
"It came from both my personal experiences and also the experiences of my family members, close friends and relatives. Those are shaped around the characters I created, and combined and molded together for the story."
Allen published the sequel to the story, and conclusion of the series, in August of 2021.
"I was able to finish it in a little bit of a shorter timeline," he said. "It took me a little under a year to finish all my edits and corrections for this novel (compared to a little over a year for the first one)."
"Mainly during the summers," he said. "I usually have a lot more free time than during the semester. Especially not being attached to school, we just have summer workouts, so whatever free time I have during the day – or even in the evenings – is when I started writing."
As Lehigh head coach Tom Gilmore said, "If you talk to an engineering student at Lehigh, they would tell you they don't have any time to do anything. If you talk to a Division I football player, they would tell you they don't have any time to do anything.
"He's doing both and he's doing both as a leader and a high achiever."
"It's definitely a sacrifice at times," said Allen. "I'm not able to do a lot of the things that everybody else is, but ultimately becomes worth it when I see somebody who enjoys the book and says this has changed my perspective on things."
It's made it all worth it for Allen.
"How he's been able to [write novels] is really amazing, but it tells you how serious, how dedicated and how devoted he is to everything he does," said Gilmore.
With everything Allen has already done and accomplished in his life, there is an underlying drive to succeed.
"I believe it's mostly thanks to my parents' upbringing, the lessons and mindset they have instilled in me to always work hard and do my best because hard work eventually pays off," he said. "Even though the results might not be immediate, the long road to get there definitely makes those rewards worth it."
In many ways, that's a good analogy to the 2021 Lehigh football season, which began with eight straight defeats, but has included a 2-0 November, outscoring its opponents 61-15.
"I believe that we as a team, and as a program, have an identity to just keep on pushing," said Allen.
A big reason for that identity is Allen.
"RaShawn's legacy is one that future Lehigh football players should look up to," said senior offensive lineman Justin Gurth. "He is going to be well-known for his high character and tremendous leadership. RaShawn strives to be the best he can possibly be in every aspect of life.
"That is the legacy he leaves behind."
As Allen said, "A lot of people have withstood a lot and weathered a lot of storms that have come, whether it be COVID, a losing season or losing games in general. But people have just buckled themselves down and done more.
"Whenever guys get hit with adversity, we have a growth mindset and take that approach rather than just letting things go as they are," he continued.
"There's a lot of fight on this team and I don't think you see that anywhere else."
What can't RaShawn Allen do?
The Canton, Michigan native has found a way to excel as an electrical engineering major and Division I football standout, while also serving as a founder of Student-Athletes and Color.
Oh, and he's also written two novels.
To say the Lehigh football senior running back is one-of-a-kind would be an understatement.
"I say I'm one-of-one," he said. "There aren't many people doing the same things as me. But even so, writing is one of many things that make up who I am – same as engineering as well as football."
There are a lot of things that make up RaShawn Allen. On the football field, he made an immediate impact as a freshman – highlighted by 147 rushing yards at FBS Navy. Included was a 75-yard touchdown run on Lehigh's first play from scrimmage.
"That was definitely one of the biggest games I've ever played in, just being in a packed stadium with that type of crowd," said Allen. "It's an atmosphere I'll remember forever and one of the best experiences I've had at Lehigh."HE. IS. OUT. OF. HERE.
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) September 15, 2018
No one is going to catch RaShawn Allen on this 75-YARD @LehighFootball TD run. pic.twitter.com/eRvtdDaYAR
Tangible experiences aren't the only things that have highlighted Allen's career.
"I've learned to be a lot more process-oriented," he said. "Continuing to work on the process and the little details over the years has shaped me and allowed me to grow into who I am today."
Today, Allen is truly a model student-athlete who has helped lead the Mountain Hawks' program through admittedly a tough season. But throughout, Lehigh football has never quit and that's due in large part to the makeup of leaders like Allen.
"My leadership has definitely grown and altered as I've grown as a leader within the program," he said. "Right now, I lead more by example, then focus on the little details and understand what works for each individual on the team. Everybody has different things that drive and motivate them, so you have to understand and grow in your relationship with your teammates in order to leverage their needs and abilities to make them better."
Being process-oriented has not only helped Allen grow on a personal level, but it's also helped the Mountain Hawks stay focused as a team. The result is staying true to themselves and continuing to fight through any on-field struggles.
"From a mental standpoint, we're understanding the ins and outs of our game plan and what the offense or defense is running for that week," said Allen. "Understanding more about the opponent helps you play a little bit faster and actually slows the game down, which allows people to make more plays."
Allen embraces the cerebral parts of the game. He likes engineering because of its problem-solving nature, and that spills over onto the football field.
"I enjoy taking an issue or observation in engineering and working through it, whether it be calculations or experiments, and using the tools to solve that problem," said Allen. "On the field, it's the same idea. What is the issue we're facing, what are the steps we can take to solve the issue and what processes do we need to develop to take those steps into action?"
Allen has taken that same approach to other aspects of his life. One big initiative is as a founder of the Student-Athletes of Color Leadership Council
"SAOC is an organization created on campus to build up the community of student-athletes of color," he said. "I was one of the founding members and last year was our initial year conducting meetings. We had important discussions about what's happening in society, and people's responses. We just want to create an inclusive environment for student-athletes of color, which is a small group on campus, but very important to the athletics community and the campus community as a whole."
Allen and SAOC have also provided educational resources.
"We're getting a lot more participation and involvement from student-athletes as the organization is growing," he said. "We're just establishing ourselves as a group on campus and through Flight 45 (leadership program), which helps out with resources and gives us opportunities – whether it be mentorship or additional help we need."
An important goal for Student-Athletes of Color can be summed up in one word – inclusion.
"Inclusion is very important to me because you always want to feel welcome, even if you're around people who may not look like you, or be from the same cultural background," said Allen. "Being in an inclusive environment improves your mental state of mind and also improves people's experiences. We want to create the best experience for all student-athletes, and creating an inclusive environment is one step we can take."
Allen has also made a difference through two novels he's written.
"I like the ability to create stories, especially stories that inspire people, that draw questions about the world we live in and and a lot of things we see in our world today," he said.
Allen has been an avid reader from as long as he can remember, and always wanted to get into writing.
Allen's original novel is titled The Canton Greats.
"It's about two boys growing up in different circumstances and trying to overcome this overarching presence of fate in their lives," he said. "One of the main focuses in the book is on mental health. One [character] struggles with depression, a lot of mental disorders and then the opposite character has to face the outside struggles growing up in an impoverished environment, gangs and a lot of violence he sees growing up.
"It came from both my personal experiences and also the experiences of my family members, close friends and relatives. Those are shaped around the characters I created, and combined and molded together for the story."
Allen published the sequel to the story, and conclusion of the series, in August of 2021.
"I was able to finish it in a little bit of a shorter timeline," he said. "It took me a little under a year to finish all my edits and corrections for this novel (compared to a little over a year for the first one)."
How has Allen found time?📚 @LehighFootball senior RaShawn Allen (@Shawn22A) has a passion for writing, and the electrical engineering major has published a pair of novels to inspire others.@NCAA_FCS | @LehighU | @PatriotLeague | @ESPNCFB pic.twitter.com/VKWnUDHP15
— Patriot League on ESPN (@PatriotLeagueTV) October 13, 2021
"Mainly during the summers," he said. "I usually have a lot more free time than during the semester. Especially not being attached to school, we just have summer workouts, so whatever free time I have during the day – or even in the evenings – is when I started writing."
As Lehigh head coach Tom Gilmore said, "If you talk to an engineering student at Lehigh, they would tell you they don't have any time to do anything. If you talk to a Division I football player, they would tell you they don't have any time to do anything.
"He's doing both and he's doing both as a leader and a high achiever."
"It's definitely a sacrifice at times," said Allen. "I'm not able to do a lot of the things that everybody else is, but ultimately becomes worth it when I see somebody who enjoys the book and says this has changed my perspective on things."
It's made it all worth it for Allen.
"How he's been able to [write novels] is really amazing, but it tells you how serious, how dedicated and how devoted he is to everything he does," said Gilmore.
With everything Allen has already done and accomplished in his life, there is an underlying drive to succeed.
"I believe it's mostly thanks to my parents' upbringing, the lessons and mindset they have instilled in me to always work hard and do my best because hard work eventually pays off," he said. "Even though the results might not be immediate, the long road to get there definitely makes those rewards worth it."
In many ways, that's a good analogy to the 2021 Lehigh football season, which began with eight straight defeats, but has included a 2-0 November, outscoring its opponents 61-15.
"I believe that we as a team, and as a program, have an identity to just keep on pushing," said Allen.
A big reason for that identity is Allen.
"RaShawn's legacy is one that future Lehigh football players should look up to," said senior offensive lineman Justin Gurth. "He is going to be well-known for his high character and tremendous leadership. RaShawn strives to be the best he can possibly be in every aspect of life.
"That is the legacy he leaves behind."
As Allen said, "A lot of people have withstood a lot and weathered a lot of storms that have come, whether it be COVID, a losing season or losing games in general. But people have just buckled themselves down and done more.
"Whenever guys get hit with adversity, we have a growth mindset and take that approach rather than just letting things go as they are," he continued.
"There's a lot of fight on this team and I don't think you see that anywhere else."
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
OL
/ FootballLehigh Sports Central: Football
Tuesday, December 02
MHT EP6 - Football
Thursday, November 20
Brown & Flight - Episode 4
Friday, November 14
Football Blitz
Friday, October 31
