Former Purdue, Louisville QB Brady Allen brings talent to ISU

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Brady Allen, an incoming Indiana State quarterback from Fort Branch, has played for FBS programs at Purdue and Louisville.

As a high schooler, he helped lead Gibson Southern to Indiana’s Class 3A state championship in 2021.

Now he’s a Sycamore in Terre Haute, having transferred to ISU. His commitment to the Sycamore program was announced earlier this month.

Will the 6-foot-6, 220-pound Allen be ISU’s starting quarterback at some point? Maybe. Coach Curt Mallory said he’ll get the opportunity to compete for that role.

“You’re going to promise everyone an opportunity to compete and help this football team win,” Mallory said this week.

Keegan Patterson, who started 10 of ISU’s 12 games last season, has transferred to Northern Colorado, according to the UNC football’s official X account. Patterson had stepped into the starting role when the Sycamores’ No. 1 quarterback, redshirt sophomore Elijah Owens, was sidelined by a season-ending injury. ISU finished with records of 3-9 overall and 1-7 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

Allen’s coach at Gibson Southern, Nick Hart, said he knew Allen was going to be a special talent from a young age. Hart said Allen’s height is an asset, but the strength of his throwing arm was clear early on.

“I think after his freshman year, he already had guys rolling in starting to recruit him,” Hart said. “He continued to work really hard, maybe even harder after that hoopla began, and I know he’s continued it since he’s left here.”

Allen was a finalist for Indiana’s Mr. Football award as Gibson Southern won the 3A title in 2021.

He was rated as a four-star quarterback, ranked 165th in the country and the fifth-best player in Indiana.

As a collegian, Allen has a history with ISU, as an opposing quarterback. He went 1 for 3 through the air for eight yards playing against the Sycamores as a freshman for Purdue in a 56-0 Boilermaker win in 2022. Allen also has some history against current Missouri Valley opponents, going 1 for 1 in passing for seven yards as a Louisville quarterback in the Redbirds’ 56-0 win over Murray State back in 2023.

In Louisville’s 2024 contest against Austin Peay, Allen threw for 28 yards on 2-of-2 passing in a 62-0 victory. Allen also played in Louisville’s 41-14 regular-season finale against Kentucky. Most recently in 2025, Allen started the second half of the season opener against Eastern Kentucky, as he went 6 for 9 for 69 yards, including his first career touchdown pass. Allen also went 2 for 3 for 6 yards at SMU.

“I think the first thing that stood out was his work ethic,” Hart said. “He’s a relentless worker, he’s a great teammate, all those type of things.”

Regarding his skill set, Hart said Allen is more of a pocket guy. He said athletically, he’s capable of pulling it down and scrambling or or even getting involved in some run game stuff. But Hart emphasized that his strength is sitting in the pocket diagnosing coverage delivering the ball where it needs to go.

Allen has intangibles too.

“I think everybody can see that he’s got a really strong arm and he can make all these throws and stuff. [But] some of those things that maybe you can’t see, I think is what makes him a really special quarterback,” Hart said.

Hart said that as Allen started the process in college, the game was changing with the NCAA transfer portal.

“I think he has a chance to do some really special things,” Hart said. “I think he’s really excited about, you know, [about] Coach Mallory and his staff, and what they’re building, and who’s there in the building with him.”

Hart emphasized that if Allen can win the job, he has a chance to do some really special things.

“He’s a veteran guy now,” Hart said. “But he’s got immense talent.”

He emphasized the type of person Allen is, saying he’s a great teammate, leader and worker.

“I think guys will rally around him and he’ll hopefully have a successful season,” Hart said.

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