A year ago, Carolina Panthers quarterback Kyle Allen was fighting for his NFL life as an undrafted rookie on the team’s practice squad.
Allen had already been cut twice, once by Carolina, and once by the New York Jets.
After winning the Panthers backup quarterback spot behind Cam Newton this offseason, Allen was still a relatively unknown NFL quarterback.
With Newton now on injured reserve and Allen officially being named the Panthers starter the rest of the season, there hasn't been much time for Allen to sit back and reflect on how far he's come.
He doesn't need time.
"To be honest I've always expected to be in this position," Allen said. "Even with all the stuff that happened in college, at some point, I was going to find a way to get back here."
Allen was thrust into the starting role in Week 3 when Newton was shut down with a Lisfranc injury and has since guided Carolina to a 4-1 record (5-1 total dating back to last season.)
"I just look for opportunity," Allen said on WFNZ's “The Clubhouse.” "I knew once I was given these opportunities I would just have to take advantage of them.
Ranked as the No. 1 pro-style quarterback prospect coming out of high school in 2013, Allen struggled to find his footing at Texas A&M, before transferring to Houston and dealing with similar problems.
"That was the first real football adversity I faced," Allen told reporters before his first start this season. "I think I needed to feel some adversity to make myself better."
Allen hasn't been perfect, but he's played clean football and proven he belongs in the NFL.
"To sit back and think about it, that's not who I am," Allen said. "I take it week-by-week and try to give this team everything I have."
Allen's worst game came against the undefeated San Francisco 49ers in Week 8, where he threw three interceptions. However, he bounced back with a two-touchdown performance in Carolina's win against the Tennessee Titans, averaging an NFL leading 13.5 yards per attempt.
“It doesn’t seem like a lot of things faze him,” Carolina head coach Ron Rivera said. “He had a good week of practice. I don’t think (the loss) fazed him at all.”
With Newton on injured reserve, there'll be no more chatter about Newton returning to replace Allen.
"Clarity will help him," Rivera said. "Now you don't have to worry about, 'Oh, if I don't play well, something will happen immediately.' This is the situation, these are our circumstances and we're going with him."
For Allen, worrying has never been his mindset.
“Nothing has changed. You guys don’t believe me on this, but I prepare the same way every week,” he said. "It just means I have at least eight games to play and at least eight games to help this team win and get us in the playoffs.”