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BYU running back Tyler Allgeier celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the Independence Bowl against UAB at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana, on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo)

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BYU sophomore running back Tyler Allgeier scores a touchdown during the 35-31 Cougar win over USC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2021. (Courtesy BYU Photo)

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BYU running back Tyler Allgeier runs the ball during the 66-49 Cougar win over Virginia at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. (Marcia Harris, Special to the Daily Herald)

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BYU sophomore running back Tyler Allgeier scores a touchdown during the 66-49 Cougar win over Virginia at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. (Courtesy BYU Photo)

Jaren Wilkey/BYU Photo

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BYU sophomore running back Tyler Allgeier celebrates scoring a touchdown during the 21-19 BYU win over Washington State at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Wash., on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. (Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo)

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BYU coach Kalani Sitake (right) talks to his team about running back Tyler Allgeier after a 27-17 victory against Arizona State on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. (BYU Courtesy Photo)

Jaren Wilkey/BYU

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BYU running back Tyler Allgeier runs away from the defense during a game against Arizona State at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. (BYU Courtesy Photo)

Jaren Wilkey/BYU

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BYU junior running back Tyler Allgeier scores a touchdown during the 27-17 Cougar win over Arizona State at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. (Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo)

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BYU junior running back Tyler Allgeier rushes for a TD during the 22-17 Cougar loss to Coastal Carolina at Brooks Stadium in Conway, S.C. on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020.

BYU Photo

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BYU running back Tyler Allgeier runs the ball during the 26-17 Cougar win over the Utes at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Marci Harris, Herald correspondent)

❮ ❯

The Punch/Roundhouse/Tomahawk. A new single-season rushing record. A nation-leading 23 touchdowns.

BYU fourth-year sophomore running back Tyler Allgeier combined determination, explosiveness, balance, dedication and power to create a host of great memories for the Cougars in 2021.

Now the former linebacker who has the nickname “Psycho T” has decided the time has come to move on.

Allgeier announced his decision on social media Tuesday morning, tweeting from his @TylerAllgeier17 Twitter account “THANK YOU” and “#25Out.”

With it he posted a message saying that he felt like the time was right, saying:

“I came to BYU in 2018 as a walk-on, ready to challenge the doubters and hungry to prove that I belonged. Four years later, after switching positions and earning my scholarship, I have achieved my football goals at BYU and believe that I am ready for the next challenge. After much thought, consideration and prayer, I will be declaring for the 2022 NFL Draft and pursuing my life-long dream of playing in the NFL.”

He went on to express gratitude for his experience in Provo.

“This was not an easy decision for me, primarily because of the wonderful people in Provo who have helped me along my journey,” Allgeier said. “Thank you to my coaches – especially Coach Sitake, Coach Roderick, Coach Unga, Coach Lamb and Coach Tuiaki – for bringing me to Provo and believing in me. I was a long shot to make it as a walk-on, but you gave me this opportunity and I cannot thank you enough.

“Thank you to the equipment, football operations, media, academic, medical and training staffs at BYU. You all took great care of me and helped me mature into the man I am today. I am committed to finishing my degree from this great university in the near future.

“I will miss my friends and brothers in the locker room. Suiting up with you guys each week was very special and I will cherish those bonds forever.

“Thank you to Cougar Nation for your passion and support, especially this past year. Playing in front of sold-out crowds at home and large BYU cheering sections on the road was awesome. You are the best fans in college football and I know the future is bright for the Cougar football program.

“Lastly, to my family and friends — your love and support is what drove me to succeed at BYU and to take on this next chapter of my football career. The last few years were exciting, but I truly believe the best is yet to come.

“Always a Cougar, Tyler Allgeier”

In four years at BYU, Allgeier rushed for 2,899 yards and 36 touchdowns on 452 carries, most of which came this past fall. He also had 46 career receptions for 437 yards and a touchdown.

During the 10-3 Cougar campaign in 2021, Allgeier tallied 1,601 rushing yards on 276 carries, breaking the 20-year-old single-season rushing record that Doak Walker Award winner Luke Staley set in 2021 (1,582 yards on 196 carries).

Allgeier also tied Marshall’s Rasheen Ali for the lead nationally with 23 rushing touchdowns during the year.

After coming as a walk-on in 2018 and playing in four games during a redshirt year, Allgeier showed off his versatility in 2019.

He played linebacker, running back and returned kicks ending up with 26 tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss, 0.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one pass breakup on defense, 17 carries for 119 yards and caught three passes for 67 yards and one touchdown on offense and had two kick returns for 40 yards on special teams.

He was excellent in 2020, rushing 150 times for 1,130 yards and 13 touchdowns as BYU went 11-1.

That set the stage for him to become the feature running back in 2021 and he shone in that role, having seven games of with more than 100 yards rushing and two with more than 200 yards on the ground.

His highest single-game total came when he rushed for 266 yards on 29 carries with five touchdowns against Virginia in a 66-49 win in Provo.

His signature play, however, will always be known as “The Punch,” “The Roundhouse” or “The Tomahawk.”

That came during a 27-17 win over Arizona State in Provo on Sept. 18.

BYU sophomore quarterback Jaren Hall, while in the grasp of a Sun Devil defender, had tossed an ill-advised pass that was snagged out of the air by ASU senior linebacker Merlin Robertson.

There was no one between Robertson and the end zone, and he took off with his sights set on the pick-6 to give his team the lead.

BYU junior running back Tyler Allgeier was blocking in the backfield, so he took off in hot pursuit, catching up to Robertson near the BYU 20-yard line.

“I just wanted to catch up to him and get him,” Allgeier said after the game. “Thankfully it was successful. I was just trying to do my part. Anyone would have done it and I just happened to be the one who did it.”

Instead of just tackling Robertson or pushing him out of bounds, Allgeier leapt in the air and swung down with all his might on the ball, popping it loose from Robertson’s grip and creating one of the plays of the year in college football.

Hall recovered the fumble and that enabled the Cougars to secure the win.

Allgeier is the third BYU football player to declare for the 2022 NFL draft, joining offensive lineman James Empey and wide receiver Neil Pau’u who made announcements earlier in December.

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