NFL Free Agency: Notre Dame RB Armando Allen Signs with Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Notre Dame running back Armando Allen, Jr. was amongst the several Irish players to sign NFL contracts yesterday as an undrafted free agent. With the lockout over, teams were free to start contacting players and it did not take long for contracts to be written up.

Allen will join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and compete for a spot on their roster once camp opens Thursday, July 28. Changes are possible in the Buccaneers' backfield but not entirely likely, so at the very least Allen would provide depth or possibly return kicks, a specialty he shined in at times during his Notre Dame career.

Over his entire playing career, including high school, he was susceptible to injuries—he sat out his senior year in high school with a broken leg and missed the second half of his senior year in college with torn cartilage on both sides of his hip. 

Therefore, Allen probably is not in a position to compete for a full-time job. Splitting time is definitely the way to go with Allen. Another possibility includes lining up in the Wildcat position.

When healthy, he showed some flash and bursts of speed. He could wind up being a sleeper for the Bucs.