Green Bay Notre Dame running back Kingston Allen had plenty of college options when it came to his football future.
Turns out, nobody could compete with the team in his own backyard.
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound junior announced his verbal commitment to the University of Wisconsin on April 3, picking the school over other offers that included fellow Big Ten member Northwestern.
The four-star recruit made history in 2025, setting the state’s single-season record for rushing yards (3,436) and rushing touchdowns (57).
He was named the state’s Gatorade player of the year, becoming just the fourth Green Bay-area football product to receive the award since it was established in 1985 and the first since former Bay Port star Alec Ingold in 2014.
Allen will attempt to become the only two-time Gatorade player of the year in his final season of high school football in 2026.
He helped lead the Tritons to a 13-1 record and an appearance in the WIAA Division 2 state title game, where they lost to West De Pere.
Allen rushed for 200 or more yards in 10 of 13 games – he missed a Week 4 contest against Green Bay East with an injury – and scored five or more rushing TDs six times.
His performance in the postseason was nothing short of dominant.
He rushed for 477 yards and eight TDs in the first round against Greenfield and had 509 yards and seven scores in the second round against Slinger.
In five postseason games, he rushed for 1,741 yards and 27 TDs.
“As the season progressed and progressed, I realized I was more ready and more fit for the role,” Allen said in December. “As it kept going, all I felt was I just have got to do what it takes to win. Obviously, as we can tell, some crazy numbers came along with that.
“Again, that’s just a blessing that comes along with it. I did whatever it took to win. Sadly, we didn’t get the job done all the way in state, but that doesn’t discredit all the things this team was able to accomplish this year.”
As difficult as it could be to top what he did as a junior, Allen was already focused on being even better for his senior year.
It should take some pressure off his shoulders to have his college future secured.
“I think the biggest wrinkle I am going to be adding is I am going to try to get a little bit heavier for next year,” Allen said. “I am going to try and come in over 200 pounds, trying to fill out my frame more so that I can take more of those big hits, keep moving my feet, keep turning my legs. Rather than trying to utilize only my speed for what we do in this offense.
“Our offense is heavily based on can we pound the rock up the middle? Can we bust it out when we need it? I want to be able to be the back that can be utilized in every aspect of the game. If that requires me tweaking my offseason training or tweaking my diet, then that’s what it definitely is going to have to be.”
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Green Bay Notre Dame running back Kingston Allen commits to Wisconsin
Reporting by Scott Venci, Green Bay Press-Gazette / Green Bay Press-Gazette
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
