nightmare for the player because he was becomi

This story appears in ESPN The Magazines August 22 College Football Preview Issue. Subscribe today!On a late-June morning, Oregon Ducks junior wide receiver Devon Allen practices his starts in the 110-meter hurdles at Hayward Field. In two weeks, on July 9, he will take his mark on the same starting line when Oregon hosts the U.S. Olympic track and field trials. On that day, to become one of the few active college football players ever to make an Olympic team, hell have to beat some serious competition in Aries Merritt and Jason Richardson, the 2012 gold and silver medalists. You cant be starstruck when you run against them, Allen says. Hopefully theyre worried about me too. If he makes the team, Allen will face a tough decision: Play with the Ducks or go pro in track post-Rio. But Allen isnt one to get ahead of himself, and The Mag is there as he approaches his first hurdle-: earning a ticket to Brazil.Double teamHis football teammates say hes a track star who plays football, but Allen insists hes a two-sport athlete who isnt ready to sacrifice one for the other. After winning his first U.S. outdoor title in the 110-meter hurdles in 2014, Allen led Ducks receivers with seven TD catches as a redshirt freshman before tearing his ACL at the 2015 Rose Bowl. It took me 12 months to feel 100 percent and confident again, Allen says, crediting his football training with helping his track. We train for explosiveness and strength, and that plays into hurdling.With the trials only two weeks away, Allen refuses to allow fear of injury to keep him off the gridiron. You can get hurt doing anything. These guys come to my track meets, and I like to be around the team. Besides, he adds, after the injury, I got faster.Running homeOver the past two weeks, Haywards green-and-yellow decor has given way to red, white and blue. I practice here every day, Allen says. Its a definite advantage. At the July 9 final, the crowd offers Allen deafening support during his strong start; with three hurdles to go, he is even with the other leaders. Thats when I knew, he says. My last hurdles are really strong.As he crosses the line in a personal-best 13.03, Allen realizes he has booked his trip to Rio de Janeiro, where he will be favored to medal on Aug. 15. He bolts toward the crowd and leaps into the stands, where Ducks right guard Cameron Hunt hugs him and points him toward his family, uniformed in Team Allen T-shirts. Afterward, Allen says it all feels surreal. I knew I could run that time. I knew it was in there. [But] it still hasnt set in. Thurman Thomas Jersey . Halladay signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday that allowed the veteran right-hander to retire as a member of team with which he broke into the majors and spent the bulk of his distinguished 16-year career. Ed Oliver Womens Jersey .ca look back at each of the Top 10 stories of 2013. Today, we look back at Boston Strong - a citys recovery from tragedy. http://www.shoptheofficialbills.com/Elite-Josh-Allen-Bills-Jersey/ . LOUIS -- Roman Polak was celebrating even before Alexander Steen scored the winning goal in Saturdays 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. O. J. Simpson Womens Jersey . The Browns coaching search remains incomplete. Bruce Smith Jersey .Y. - Rob Manfred was promoted Monday to Major League Baseballs chief operating officer, which may make him a candidate to succeed Bud Selig as commissioner.Mamadou Sakho will not contest the result of his positive drug test, according to the Press Association. The Liverpool defender is understood to have returned a positive test for a fat-burning substance after last months Europa League game at Manchester United.Sakho had until a UEFA deadline on Tuesday to request testing on a B sample, but he did not take up the option and has instead accepted the initial result. Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool can only wait and find out what ppunishment Mamadou Sakho will face The France international is not currently suspended but was left out of Liverpools squad for Saturdays draw with Newcastle and has not travelled to Spain for Thursdays Villarreal game.ddddddddddddSpeaking on Wednesday evening in Spain, Jurgen Klopp, when asked about Sakhos situation, said: Really nothing else to say. What theyre all doing is collecting info to clear situation up. Have to wait for next steps.Former Reds defender Jamie Carragher last weekend told Sky Sports Sakho had let himself and the club down very badly. Carragher on Sakho Hes let himself and Liverpool down badly There are serious questions to be asked of him, Carragher said. Its a nightmare for the player because he was becoming really important for Liverpool.Sakhos Liverpool team-mate Kolo Toure tested positive for a banned substance during his time at Manchester City and was banned for six months under Football Association rules. Also See: Carragher on Sakho Huge risks