Countdown to 2019 IUFB Kickoff: 44 Days (Thomas Allen)

Written by Evan McShane (@veryreasonable)

#44 – Thomas Allen (Redshirt Sophomore)

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 245 Pounds

Hometown: Tampa, Florida

Position: Linebacker

Like most coach’s sons, Thomas Allen is no exception in that he is an extremely intelligent player. He plays like a coach, quarterbacking the defense and always communicating to his teammates. Allen came to the Hoosiers from Flordia, and while he had an impressive game, it wasn’t a sure thing he would have the size and athleticism necessary to compete in the Big Ten. That is no longer a question. Entering the 2019 season, the redshirt sophomore is up to 245-pounds and in 2018, he looked more than capable of being a major contributor at linebacker. Allen recorded 28 tackles, a sack, and an interception as he appeared in all 12 games last year.

Now, Indiana will rely on Allen to be a young leader on defense. From the beginning of his career, Allen has played like a seasoned veteran. He will likely man the middle linebacker spot, providing his usual command. While Allen will never have elite lateral speed, he makes up for it in other areas. He will have to work on his coverage skills to become a more complete linebacker, but for now, the Hoosiers are lucky to have him.