KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Former Whitworth University tight end Michael Allan has made the Kansas City Chiefs final 53-man roster for the upcoming 2007 season. Allan survived the final round of cuts, which came late on Saturday night.
Allan is the first Whitworth player to make a regular season NFL roster since Doug Long played for the Seattle Seahawks during the 1977 and 1978 seasons. Allan finished the preseason with five catches for 64 yards, ranking third on the team for total receptions and yards receiving. He is currently listed as the third tight end on the Chiefs' depth chart. Allan had his best preseason game against the Miami Dolphins in week two, catching three passes for 42 yards, including two receptions on Kansas City's only touchdown drive of the contest. The Chiefs finished 0-4 during the regular season. Allan became the seventh Pirate taken in the NFL draft last April when the Chiefs made him their seventh round selection. He tied Ken Sugarman, who was taken by the Baltimore Colts in 1963, as the highest draft choice (by round) in school history. He was the first Whitworth player chosen in the draft since offensive lineman Eric Kelly was taken by the Detroit Lions in the 14th round in 1972. In addition to Allan and Long, Paul Ward is the third former Whitworth player to play in the NFL. Ward was a member of the Lions in 1961 and 1962. Both Long and Ward were undrafted free agents. Allan was an NCAA Division III consensus All-American at Whitworth, setting school records for touchdown receptions in a season (15) and career (29). He helped the Pirates finish 11-1 in 2006, the team's first 11-win season and first outright Northwest Conference title. Allan is listed third on the Chiefs' depth chart behind 11-year veterans Tony Gonzales, an all-pro, and Jason Dunn. Kansas City will open the season on Sunday afternoon at the Houston Texans. Go to Athletics Home Page > Football > Sports Releases > |
