Loading ...Highly-rated Ben Davis DB Antonio Allen commits to Indiana
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by Dustin Dopirak | Thursday, August 9, 2012 - 1:57 pm UTC
Ben Davis defensive back Antonio Allen, a four-star recruit according to Rivals.com who recently rescinded his commitment from Mississippi, committed to Indiana on Wednesday night, becoming the seventh member of Indiana’s Class of 2013 and the highest rated.
Ben Davis coach Mike Kirschner said the biggest reason Allen felt comfortable at Indiana was its proximity to home.
“It all had to do with how close it was to home,” Kirschner said. “He loved Ole Miss, but the more he talked about how far away it was from his mom and dad and all of his brothers and sisters, it was just eating him up, and he wanted to go somewhere closer to home. Indiana was the best fit because of that.”
Plus, Allen said he wanted to be part of a team that would end the historic misfortune of Indiana football.
“As an Indiana kid, it would mean a lot if we could turn this place around,” Allen said. “If we start winning games in a couple of years and get it going, people are going to look back at this and say, ‘Yeah, Antonio Allen was on that team.’”
In Allen, the Hoosiers get a speedy, hard-hitting safety who recorded over 70 tackles, two interceptions and six forced fumbles at Ben Davis last season. The 5-foot-11, 194-pounder can run the 40 in 4.5 seconds (electronically timed, Kirschner said) squad 450 pounds, bench 320 and clean 300.
“This is my 29th year coaching,” Kirschner said. “I don’t know if I’ve ever coached anyone who hits harder than he does.”
Not that there are much by way of obvious similarities, but you have to hope he works out better than Finch.
This is great news for our defense. Hopefully the first of an influx of more talented players on that side of the ball over the next 2-3 years!
HUGE get for the Hoosiers!! Hopefully this will get the recruiting momentum rolling!
Now we’re cookin.
Best IU football recruit in years, think “Bob Sanders”, but slightly bigger. Never seen a bigger hitter, and he played at the highest level. This kid is special, unbelievably great recruit. Could be a game changer the way Cody was to basketball, he’ll make everyone better. Watching him against Warren last year was scary, he dominated D-1 competition….
This class just keeps getting better and better. This gives the program a big lift, especially on defense. I’ve been waiting a long time for a D-back with speed that is a big hitter.
Stay healthy Mr. Allen and you’ll be seeing a lot of playing time your freshman year in B-town.
Great recruit, sounds like a ‘seed’ for change in direction. Sometimes, the ball does bounce your way. Great for the staff to stay with it and make IU an attractive option for A. Allen.
“As an Indiana kid, it would mean a lot if we could turn this place around,” Allen said. “If we start winning games in a couple of years and get it going, people are going to look back at this and say, ‘Yeah, Antonio Allen was on that team.’” DB Antonio Allen.
He gets it! That is a plus factor in recruiting- especially Indiana kids-, not a factor to be down-in-the-mouth about. Football players, top level competitive athletes, understand the challenge and accept it as a reason to undertake it, not to run away from.
Definitely takes the sting out of Lyles turning his back on us. Allen is an Indiana kid.
Are we making too much of Lyles decision to re-open his recruiting? Has he said he’s not coming to IU?
Allen’s comment is priceless.
It’s not like Lyles wants us to abort the little Hoosier scholly. Let it stay in the womb for a little longer while he thinks about it. He had a brief roll in the barn hey with candy-stripes…What’s the big deal? We thought he was ‘full in’ so we let him ‘full in’…He said it was love…..Now it appears Hoosiers don’t look as hot as the new girl next door that’s calling. Trey is sorry he knocked us up with hope, but with his sort of 15-year-old swagger, what’s a top recruit to do? Everybody wants it…How do you keep those type of gifts contained when it’s all jacked-up? Is it his fault for not being strong-willed? We just looked awfully damn pretty with all that Cody makeup piled on the rest our ugly face. He couldn’t help himself. It’s not like we didn’t want it too. Now we’re just another unwanted scholly pregnancy that gave it up on prom night for a One-and-Done.
Maybe there’s some sorry-ass loser that will still love us when we’re not so pretty in the morning after..Maybe someone that will treat us better than dolled-up whore. I guess it’s too late for that type of true commitment.
What was it Coach Hagen said a few weeks ago about some recruiting surprises coming?
See Tsao, I do agree with you plenty of times.
Nice. Now, if we can only get about 8 more 4 star players & a couple of 5 stars, then we’re talking! Sorry, don’t mean to be a buzzkill, just a realist. I realize that we have to start somewhere, so, hopefully, this is that place.
Chris, sure, to contend for a title, you’re right. But we have to see that it’s a process. I imagine Boise State is bringing in kids they never dreamed of getting 5 years ago. I’m excited about this year. We’ll take our lumps but we should be able to get a better idea of what KW is trying to implement here.
Honestly Chet, I’m not crazy about the idea of 7-5 seasons with trips to the Motor City Bowl. Although I reluctantly agree that seasons of that type would be better than 1-11. I’m excited about the opportunity that the program has next year: 8 home games, & a real chance to start 5-0 the way the schedule plays out, so my focus is on getting the squad improved enough to take advantage of next years slate.
Couldn’t agree more.