A native of Lumberton, North Carolina, and a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke (formerly Pembroke State University), Allen began officiating football games at the high school, and later, ACC levels.
During the 2023 season, he drew widespread attention when the officiating crew he led made a questionable call on December 30 in a Detroit Lions game against the Dallas Cowboys.
That, and several other controversial calls during the 2023-24 season, led the NFL to downgrade the crew and prevent them from officiating playoff games.
[2] Though not publicized by the NFL, that ban was lifted ahead of the 2024 playoffs, when Allen and his crew were named to serve as the officials during the NFC Wild Card matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers.
[3] They stuck with their call after the review showed otherwise, baffling the Fox commentating team of Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady, leading to suggestions that a further ban may be necessary.