It’s not surprising that Josh Allen competed in the NFL Pepsi Punt, Pass and Kick and did well enough to qualify for the state finals during halftime at the Nov. 23 Detroit-Tampa Bay game.
After all, competing in this event runs in the family: Josh’s father, Matt, and his five uncles all competed in this event when they were younger.
What is surprising is that Josh, a nine-year-old fourth grader at Clear Lake Elementary School, didn’t even start playing football until this year when he got into flag football.
‘I practice three to four times a week,? said Josh. ‘Dad goes out a lot with me.?
Josh must be a very quick learner. He competed at a local PPPK event in Oxford on Sept. 27 and qualified for sectional competition in Troy on Oct. 11.
At Troy, Josh scored a combined 197 feet as he punted, passed and kicked the ball to finish first in the 8-9-year-old boys division. He competed against nine others in his group and scored in the top five to move on to Detroit.
While the top score was 223 feet, Josh hopes to top that when he competes again against four others in his division at Ford Field. Practicing on his own, Josh has had bests of 75 feet for passing, 78 feet for punting and 60-65 feet for kicking.
If he scores well against others in his division, Josh could move on to the national finals.
Those will be held during an upcoming NFL playoff game.
When playing in the punt, pass and kick event, the athletes are judged by distance minus accuracy. When they throw, kick and punt, the ball must land as close to the tape measure on the ground as possible. If they throw the ball 60 feet but miss the tape measure by 20 feet, then they are credited for a 40-feet-throw.
‘I try to do everything dead on the line and throw or kick the ball as far as I can,? Josh explained.
At the events, they are given one throw, one kick and one punt.
Sounds like pressure? That doesn’t seem to be too much of a problem for Josh.
‘I probably will be more nervous than he will be,? said his mother, Shelly Allen. ‘He seems to do well under pressure. I think he’s done great considering he’s never played football before except for around the house.?
Dan Sullivan, Recreation Developer for Oxford Township Parks and Recreation, has known the Allen family for a couple of years and said he’s not surprised by Josh’s progress. He noticed Josh’s athleticism when he was in Gator Ball, a kindergarten and first-grade basketball program.
‘He’s always been a pretty talented athlete,? Sullivan said. ‘It doesn’t surprise me he’s caught on this quickly.?