Written By Dustin Schutte (@SchutteCFB)

This was the second straight year Tom Allen made a significant splash in the Sunshine State.

Eight players from Florida -- nearly one-third of the recruiting class -- are headed to Indiana as members of the 2018 cycle. It's further evidence that Allen is set on digging his cleats into the talent-rich soil and planting the IU brand in the hotbed of college football recruiting.

Allen hasn't been satisfied by simply waving a cream and crimson flag in the middle of the state, welcoming anyone willing to book a flight back to Bloomington. He and his coaching staff are plucking some of Florida's finest talents, stealing them from suitors from the SEC, ACC, and other in-state programs.

Tampa Bay Times Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year Michael Penix (QB) and James Miller (LB) picked Indiana over Florida State. Three-star defensive end Jonathan King selected Indiana over offers from Florida and Miami. Last year, Allen was able to flip Juwan Burgess -- another Tampa native -- from USC to IU late in the recruiting process.

Winning those battles is huge for Indiana.

Recruiting Florida has become somewhat of a necessary evil in college football. With 486 total prospects listed on 247Sports -- second-most behind only Texas -- casting a line into the crowded waters doesn't do any harm. There aren't many Big Ten programs that aren't making a handful of trips to the Sunshine State in an attempt to sign a blue-chip player or land a hidden gem. Though the Hoosiers aren't getting the highly-touted four- and five-star guys, Allen does have a meticulous approach, and it's already paying off.

"The guys in their area do a great job of knowing principals and ADs and counselors in those buildings," Allen said at his post-signing day press conference when asked about the importance of recruiting Florida. "You don't do that unless you're there over and over and over again."

"We have some areas in Florida that we have designated, even though it's out of state and it's not close by, but we recruit those areas like they are within our six-hour radius."

Allen's familiarity and knowledge of the Tampa area has already paid off tremendously for the Hoosiers. Coaching in the area, first at the high school level and later as a defensive coordinator at South Florida, has allowed him to build a reputation in one of the hottest markets in the game.

Now that Allen has guided some of Florida's quality prospects back to Southern Indiana, a new challenge begins. In order to maintain a presence in the Tampa market, the Hoosiers have to produce results and prove the program is aimed in a positive direction. Winning at a high level doesn't have to come immediately -- especially considering all the team lost from the 2017 season -- but it does have to arrive sooner rather than later.

High reputation and quality character are great traits to possess, but it will quickly tatter if the program doesn't gain or sustain any momentum. Those quality players won't keep choosing Indiana over Florida State, Miami and other suitors out of the Big Ten, ACC and SEC.

Indiana is welcoming in a recruiting class that ranked 48th nationally and 10th in the Big Ten. This isn't a group with the eye-candy of an Ohio State, Penn State or Michigan, but this is a group that can have plenty of success in the future.

A good portion of that credit goes to Allen for reinforcing a bridge from Bloomington to Florida, and not letting just anyone with a valid Florida license cross.

The Huddle

Tom Allen isn't Just Recruiting Florida, he's Stealing Quality Prospects

Hoosier Huddle