Taje Allen

Taje Allen stands as one of the greatest players to ever suit up for the mighty Estacado Matador football program. A standout defensive back for Estacado from 1988 to 1991, Allen was named first-team All-State during his senior year and was widely considered one of the top defensive backs in the entire state of Texas. His exceptional high school career earned him a football scholarship to the University of Texas.

During his time at UT, the Longhorns won two Southwest Conference Championships. Allen was selected as a second-team All-Southwest Conference selection in 1995. The following year, the Big 12 Conference was formed. With Allen at defensive back, Texas won the inaugural Big 12 Conference Championship. His teams played in the Sun Bowl, the Sugar Bowl, and the Fiesta Bowl.

After college, the St. Louis Rams selected Allen in the fifth round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He would play six seasons for the Rams and was a part of the team that won Super Bowl 34. The Rams might not have made it to that Super Bowl without a big play from Allen. He knocked down a potentially game-winning 4th down pass in the NFC Championship game that helped secure the trip to the Super Bowl. Allen would end his NFL career playing for the Kansas City Chiefs.

He returned to Texas in sports management and worked in Event Operations at the University of Texas and then for the Austin Convention Center.

Allen’s induction into the Lubbock ISD Athletics Hall of Honor salutes his outstanding football career at Estacado, the University of Texas, and the National Football League.