Countdown to IUFB Kickoff: 44 Days (Thomas Allen)

Written by David Sugarman (@David_Sugarman2)

#44

July is moving at a brisk pace and so is the Hoosier Huddle Countdown. Just 44 days stand between us and Hoosier football when Indiana plays host to Ohio State on August 31st to open up the season. In the mean time we take a look at a familiar name, Thomas Allen.

Thomas Allen (Freshman)

Height: 6’3’’

Weight: 230 pounds

Hometown: Tampa, Florida

Position: Linebacker

I know what you’re first question is so let’s get it out of the way. No, Tom Allen will not be pulling a Jackie Moon and be acting as a player-coach this season for the Hoosiers. However the Hoosiers did offer Thomas, coach Allen’s son, a scholarship. When Allen first arrived in Bloomington as a defensive coordinator he stressed to Kevin Wilson he did not want his son to get a scholarship simply because of his name. The Hoosiers took a hard look at Allen’s son, and realized the question marks at the linebacker position that will be posed in the near future, offered the two-star recruit a scholarship.

Thomas Allen played for two high schools in Florida, starting at Oxford and then finishing his career with two years at Plant High School. Despite being just a two-star recruit, Allen earned recognition for his time in the high school ranks. He racked up several notable accolades including earning second team all-state and being named the 2016 Tampa Bay Defensive Player of the Year. He’ll be joined by a few teammates from Plant High as well with incoming freshman wide receiver De’Angelo “Whop” Philyor and cornerback Juwan Burgess.

A year ago this was an easy part of the countdown to write. Marcus Oliver was coming back and he was either going to be really good or great. He brought experience and a hard nosed, ball hawking skill set to the table. Now with Oliver, Oliver’s backup T.J. Simmons, and Dawson Fletcher all gone, their are a number of unknowns at linebacker. It’s unclear with the experience of Tegray Scales and Chris Covington, both seniors, as well as the time left for both Mike McGinnis and Dameon Willis who both have two years of eligibility left, how much Allen will see the field this season, but without a doubt Indiana needed to have foresight for their linebacker corps and did it with this pickup. It may not be this season, but we got a feeling in the next four years Allen will make both his Dad and Hoosier Nation proud.

Please share any comments or thoughts in the comments section or in our message board. The countdown continues each and every day so make sure to check Hoosier Huddle daily as we roll towards the 2017 season!