Colin Allred is serving his first term as a U.S. House Representative for Texas, but he never forgets those who guided him.

With his mother stressing the value of education and his YMCA, Dallas Hillcrest and Baylor coaches emphasizing hard work and the importance of teamwork, Allred was able to chase and follow his dreams. 

Before going into politics, the representative was an all-around athlete who earned all-district honors in football, basketball and baseball throughout high school. He also was class president at Dallas Hillcrest High School. He later signed with Baylor in 2001 and studied biology and pre-med major but later switched to history. 

“You have to find a way to come together and pull in the same direction and have a common goal.”

Playing sports while also keeping a focus on his education, Allred was able to grow as a student and player, again, thanks to the great influence of his mother and coaches. As time went on, he got to play more as his college career developed. Allred ended up being one of the Baylor’s top tacklers as a senior in college in 2005, making a total of 73 stops.

Allred not only got to play at the college level but also for the NFL’s Tennessee Titans, where he made 46 career tackles. Unfortunately his 2010 season ended after several injuries. He then decided that he would enter law school for the sake of his health. 

After graduating from law school in 2014 he was unsure of what career path he wanted to take but everything became clear when he worked as a special assistant in the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s office of general counsel for former President Barack Obama’s administration. 

“We could use that in our country. We should all be pulling in the same direction and have the same goal. Team sports are the best incubator for getting along with people. It’s never about you, it’s always about the bigger goal.”

In 2017 he announced his campaign and defeated Lillian Salerno in a runoff election. He then went on to defeat the Republican who had represented the district since 2003, Pete Sessions. 

Allred says that he stills keeps up and follows Baylor football along with their new coaches. And praises them on how they have handled the program.

He hopes to be able to use everything he’s learned on the field, in school, and in life to be able to be the best he can as the U.S. House Representative for the 32nd Congressional District.