LeQuint Allen Reaches Settlement With Syracuse University, Eligible to Play in 2023

The LeQuint Allen saga has come to an end and it is good news for Syracuse fans hoping to have their starting running back suit up this fall. Allen reached a settlement with Syracuse University that will allow him to play for the 2023 season and the lawsuit has been withdrawn. Details of the settlement have not been made public. 

The original suspension stemmed from an incident last December in which Allen claimed he was approached and punched twice by an unnamed individual. Allen struck back in self defense, and the unnamed individual subsequently filed a complaint in February with Syracuse University. 

After a process that included a hearing where the unnamed individual was not present and did not provide medical records to substantiate his injuries, nor was self defense considered, Allen was suspended for two semesters. His appeals were unsuccessful. 

Allen emerged last season as the heir apparent to Sean Tucker. He had a stellar Pinstripe Bowl and appeared ready to take the reins as the starting running back this spring. During his true freshman season, he ran for 274 yards on 41 carries (6.7 yards per attempt) with one score. He had another 117 yards through the air on 17 catches with another score. Allen ran for 94 yards and had another 60 receiving in the Pinstripe Bowl.

Syracuse has added two junior college running backs (Deston Hawkins and JJ Branham) as well as a high schooler (Muwaffaq Parkman) to its backfield this offseason.