No limit

The journey isn't over. With everything he's had to overcome, Lazard freely admits this dream could end at any moment.

Right now, however, it's still very much real. In 14 games, Lazard has caught 26 passes for 363 yards and two touchdowns. A valued contributor on special teams, Lazard also has seven coverage tackles on coordinator Shawn Mennenga's units.

At the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine, friend and former Iowa State teammate Hakeem Butler said it was "bogus" Lazard wasn't drafted. Ask anyone close to the Cyclones program and they're likely to say the same.

Always confident in his abilities, Lazard won't say "I told you so" but there is a part of him that laughs when people talk about his emergence in flabbergasted tones.

"That's why I don't understand why people are so blown away, because I feel like they've had the answers to the test this whole time and they chose to ignore them," said Lazard with a smile.

"That's why I don't really try to focus on what other people say or how other people try to limit me or try to put me in a box or whatever. I've just always stayed true to myself and I think that's what's really helped me with my success now."

The Lazard family bond remains as strong as ever. During the dark times, it was that foundation that often lifted Allen back on his feet.

Like when he was little, Allen acknowledges his dad will still send him clips from NFL games, inquiring if he'd seen them. More often than not he has, but Allen still appreciates the gesture.

A long time ago, Lazard's grandfather, Ernie Allen, told him "you can only learn from listening" and the 24-year-old has applied that adage to every part of his life and football career.

"He knows what he's capable of and he just kind of goes out there and proves it," Kevin said. "He lets the other people do their talking and whatever they want to do, and he goes out there and shows I'm going to outwork you and beat you, and you can't do anything about it."

Allen still has the list of names from his draft party in his Google Drive. He's thankful for that disappointing day. It's a reminder that "You're not given opportunities – you have to go take them."

He also remains grateful to those who helped him along his journey. When Bjorkgren attended the Packers' game in Kansas City earlier this year, Lazard was texting his former coach hours before the game to make sure he was set up with pre-game passes.

Meanwhile, Kevin has established an email chain to keep all of his friends and former coaches in the loop.

"I told a kid today at school that I said I've watched more Packer games this year than I've ever watched in my life," said TeBrink, now the head football coach at North Polk High School in in Alleman, Iowa. "It's fun to see a kid who worked hard, you got to work with, and who's humble and has done things the right way."

Last Wednesday marked the one-year anniversary of Lazard signing with Green Bay last December. Over the past year, he's sat next to Rodgers in meetings and taken every note possible from veterans around the locker room.

Because he doesn't want to be a feel-good story. He wants to play in the NFL for a long, long time. As for the winding road he had to take to get there, well, "Hakuna Matata."