Larry Christopher Allen Sr. (born November 27, 1971) is an American former professional football player who was a guard in the National Football League (NFL) for fourteen seasons, primarily with the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Sonoma State and was selected by the Cowboys in the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft. Allen is regarded as one of the NFL's physically strongest players ever while also capable of using his speed against defenders. Spending his first twelve seasons with the Cowboys, Allen earned ten Pro Bowl selections and seven first-team All-Pro honors. His ten Pro Bowl selections are the most for a Cowboys offensive player. He was also part of the team that won a Super Bowl title in Super Bowl XXX. Allen played his final two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, where he received his eleventh Pro Bowl selection. He was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013. Early years Allen grew up in Compton, California, and had a troubled childhood, including contracting meningitis and almost dying at six weeks old, as well as being stabbed 12 times in the head, shoulder, and neck by a young neighbor while trying to protect his brother at the age of 10. He attended a different school in each of his four years of high school. As a freshman at Centennial High School in Compton, Allen lettered in football. For his sophomore year, he attended Tokay High School in Lodi. As a junior, Allen transferred to Edison High School in Stockton. He finished Vintage High School in Napa, California, but did not graduate. College career Allen was not academically eligible to play NCAA Division I football, so he attended Butte College in Oroville, California. In each of his two years at Butte, the team went 10–1 while winning the Golden Valley Conference, and Allen was named to the All-Conference and All-State teams both seasons. Allen was also recognized as a J.C. All-American after his sophomore year. Allen did not attend any school the following year. After a year away from school, he enrolled at Sonoma State University, a Division II school north of San Francisco. In two years with the Cossacks, Allen gave up just one sack and was a two-time All-American. The Cossacks were primarily a passing team and established 10 new school records, including most yards gained, most touchdown passes, best gain-per-completion rate