MADISON — On one end of the phone is a running back who will go down among the best to ever play in the NFL whenever his career ends.

On the other is one of college football's premier running backs who will almost certainly be in the NFL next year.

Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans is 6-foot-4, 247 pounds. Wisconsin junior Braelon Allen is 6-foot-2, 245 pounds.

It just made too much sense for the latter to connect with the former. Allen, after all, has already drawn Henry comparisons, with more undoubtedly on the way when the 2024 NFL Draft hype heats up.

"It was after my freshman year," Allen said when asked how this came about. "We connected on Instagram. I got this phone number. Ever since then, I have been reaching out. He always replies and gives great advice."

What has he learned from Henry, who became the eighth running back in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season in 2020? Allen did not give away too many details — no doubt, he's learned plenty — but he's been following Henry's diet.

The main pillars, Allen said: gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free and no fried foods. He will continue with that plan throughout the season.

"It's difficult, but I feel great. I look great," Allen said. "I am going to keep it going."

Henry, who starred for Alabama and won the Heisman Trophy in 2015, has 8,335 yards rushing (first among active running back) and 78 touchdowns (also first among active running backs) since breaking into the league in 2016. He's known for his stiff arm and an all-around bruising style of running.

Allen has shown some flashes of Henry as he's compiled 2,510 yards and 23 touchdowns over two seasons. Of course, he's produced those numbers despite facing loaded boxes more often than any running back in that span.

"He's not somebody people want to tackle," Allen said when asked what he admires about Henry's game. "He really runs with that presence. He knows people don't want to tackle him. That's something I think I can do a better job of. That's something I can definitely put an emphasis on. I need to run like that and have that attitude. He also has that crazy stiff-arm. That's something else I'd love to have in my arsenal."

Allen also noted Henry's speed and elusiveness.

"He had a run this past season against Houston," Allen said. "He broke through on an inside zone and was one-on-one with the safety. He shook the safety. There's no reason anyone who's 260 pounds should be able to do that to a safety."

Soon, perhaps, people will be saying similar things about Allen, who's unique in many of the same ways.

"He's one of the best in the game," Allen said. "He will be one of the best ever when it's all said and done. There aren’t too many guys who are like us, weighing 245-250 pounds. Anybody I can have in my phone that I can reach out to for advice like that, he's the one."

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