Utah’s Allen turns a corner
One-time WR at La Marque enjoys switching to defensive side
Growing up in La Marque, Brian Allen became accustomed to forward movement in any athletic endeavor.
Now, the converted cornerback is learning how to play in reverse as he masters the art of the backpedal.
As a wide receiver, Allen became a well-practiced performer in the fly pattern, slant and jump ball.
Allen seemed destined to stick at that position at the collegiate level, earning a scholarship to Utah.
By his sophomore year, though, it was determined by the coaching staff that a player of Allen’s rare dimensions and athleticism could provide more of an impact on the defensive side.
Possible 3rd-rounder
Three years later, Allen has matured into a rising NFL draft prospect. At 6-3, 215 pounds, Allen is unusually big for a cornerback. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.48 seconds at the NFL scouting combine and is climbing draft boards to the point he’s expected to be taken as high as the third round.
“I found a new home out there on that island and that’s where I want to be,” Allen said. “I’ve gotten more acquainted with corner and I’m learning new stuff every day. I feel like I’ve been playing it my whole career. There’s still room to grow. My length and strength are some of my biggest assets going against bigger receivers. When I go against guys, I’m going to use my size and strength to my advantage every time.”
There are few cornerbacks in recent NFL draft history as big and fast as Allen, who led Utah with four interceptions last season to rank second in the Pac-12 Conference.
His 38-inch vertical leap at his pro day would have ranked fifth among all corners at the combine and his 10-7 broad jump would have ranked seventh.
“I like Allen a lot,” an AFC scouting director said. “He’s a big, strong, fast kid. He needs to keep staying low and work on his tackling, but he’s got a natural backpedal. I want to see what he’s going to be like in a few years. I could see him playing safety if it doesn’t work out at corner. Right now, we’re evaluating him strictly at corner.”
Allen compares favorably to Washington cornerback Kevin King in terms of measurables and statistics.
“It’s a testament to me even though I’m not considered one of those top guys that I can still compete with them,” Allen said. “I played against Kevin King at Washington. I’ve seen what Richard Sherman is doing in the NFL now. I’m showing teams what I can do. I don’t like to compare myself because I’m my own player.”
Allen helped contain Southern Cal wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster last season. Scouts have referenced that matchup in conversations with Allen as checking off a box.
“We had some good battles,” Allen said. “He caught some passes, I broke up some. Cornerback is the hardest position to play on defense because you line up against some of the top talent in the world. That was a good game.”
Work in progress
Allen is far from a finished product, though, and can use more polish to his game. That’s where NFL teams see upside.
“There’s always little minor technique things,” he said. “There’s always something you can do to improve your game. I work on little things like keeping my pad level down as a bigger player.”
Allen visited or worked out for seven NFL teams. He participated in the Texans’ local prospect day.
During the draft process, Allen has consulted with New England Patriots cornerback Eric Rowe. A native of Spring, Rowe played at Utah and was a safety before moving to corner on a full-time basis.
“He gives me good advice,” Allen said. “He’s one of those guys I can always call on when I need to talk. He’s helped me make the transition. He was a safety and he ended up moving to corner.
“He was one of those guys who made everything flow for me. He told me to take it day by day, have fun and don’t stress out, to just play football and do what you’ve been doing your whole life. That’s what I live
by.”
Growing up, Allen enjoyed the small-town life of La Marque, where his mother is a nurse and his father a boilermaker.
“It’s pretty small,” said Allen, who has three sisters and two brothers. “We had one McDonald’s. Everybody gets to know everybody. Everybody knows their parents. It was a great family atmosphere, traditional values, church and school. I love it.”
Allen plans to spend the draft with his wife, Paula,
and their baby daughter, A’mya. They are a major source of inspiration for him.
“This whole experience motivates me every day to keep going for them,” Allen said. “The biggest thing I want to do is put my daughter through school. My first paycheck will be to start saving for that college fund. It’s not about me anymore. I have to support my wife and daughter.”