Travis Allen felt the desire to be back around football at a higher level.
The Lansing Eastern graduate and former Notre Dame football player was working in sales in metro Detroit and helping out the Brother Rice football program when he decided to make some calls to see what opportunities existed.
That’s when the idea of becoming an agent came into play.
Allen saw that as a potential fit and quit his sales job in 2019. He moved to California to intern at Athletes First to get an understanding of the sports agent space before being hired full time in the football department. Allen became a certified agent in 2021 and now is making a big mark in the football world.
The opening round of the NFL draft on Thursday, April 23, in Pittsburgh was a significant moment with the 31-year old Allen representing three of the draft’s first six picks. Allen had client David Bailey of Texas Tech go No. 2 to the New York Jets, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love get taken third overall by the Arizona Cardinals and LSU defensive back Mansoor Delane get taken by the Kansas City Chiefs with pick No. 6.
“It was a whirlwind of a night,” Allen said. “It was crazy. I’m still kind of like, man, I can’t believe what just happened. I know I’ve worked hard and our team has worked very hard, so it feels good when it kind of all comes together.”
This year’s draft marked the fifth for Allen as an agent and the first he experienced being in the green room. Moments like Thursday are what Allen envisioned when he changed careers.
“Even when I wasn’t certified and kind of just working under all the agents and seeing how hard they worked and what goes into it and the culmination on draft night and the celebration, I just wanted to have that and work with some of these top guys,” Allen said. “I really want to be an advisor and help them through their career.”
Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley isn’t surprised to see Allen making his mark as an agent. Henley was drawn to Allen by the drive and the effort he made with him when he was at Washington State. That led to Henley taking a chance on Allen when he was looking for an agent prior to being selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft.
Henley is proud to see where things have taken both over the past few years with him now thriving with the Chargers and Allen now representing multiple first-round draft picks.
“To see where we were at our start to where he is now and where I am now, it’s amazing,” said Henley, who has led the Chargers in tackles the last two seasons and is a team captain.
“… I just can’t wait for him to do for others what he’s done for me or what he’s doing for me. That’s kind of where I see Trav going. The sky is the limit for him. I know that’s a cliche thing, but it really is when you see where he’s going (after just) four years of doing this at a high level.”
Continuing to build is the focus for Allen, whose other clients have included Dylan Parham of the New York Jets and Xavier Watts of the Atlanta Falcons.
“I want to be, truthfully, one of the best agents in the game,” Allen said. “I really just enjoy working for people. We’re a service job at the end of the day. I enjoy working for these guys and helping these guys and being a part of their journey and just having genuine relationships with them.
“Not everybody does it the right way and people take advantage of these players and their families. and more look at it like a transaction. I want to help change that.”
Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on X @brian_calloway and Bluesky @briancalloway.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Lansing’s Travis Allen makes big splash as agent with memorable NFL draft
Reporting by Brian Calloway, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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