ARIZONA

Scottsdale Desert Mountain’s Kyle Allen named Panthers starter

Dec 26, 2018, 6:01 PM | Updated: 10:01 pm

Carolina Panthers' Kyle Allen warms up before an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in C...

Carolina Panthers' Kyle Allen warms up before an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)

(AP Photo/Mike McCarn)

Scottsdale native and former Desert Mountain High School quarterback Kyle Allen has been named the starter for the Carolina Panthers in their last game of the 2018 season.

Allen was signed by the Panthers as an undrafted free agent in April, followed by a flurry of releases and being re-signed to the practice squad in September and October.

Last week, Allen was promoted to the active roster as a backup following the team shutting down Cam Newton.

Allen made his NFL debut after coming in for an injured Taylor Heinicke during the Panther’s Week 16 game against the Falcons.

The former five-star recruit played his first two years of college football at Texas A&M, where he became the starter four games into his true freshman year.

After a good beginning to his sophomore season, Allen battled injuries that would lead to his transfer to the University of Houston, where he would redshirt his 2016 season due to the NCAA requiring transfers to sit out a year.

Allen began his junior season as the starter, including a 19-16 victory over the Arizona Wildcats in the 2017 season opener, but eventually lost the starting job three games into the season.

Following the 2017 college football season, Allen decided to forgo his senior year and declare for the 2018 NFL Draft.

Allen will make his first NFL start Sunday in Week 17 against the Saints in New Orleans.

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Scottsdale Desert Mountain’s Kyle Allen named Panthers starter