Perry’s Rosati on Allen: ‘Best I’ve ever coached’

The Perry football team has turned out some fantastic players during Matt Rosati’s tenure as head coach.

From Ohio State’s current starting tight end Luke Farrell to All-Ohioan Andy Foley to Josh Petruccelli, who helped lead Mount Union to the national championship last year as a freshman, the Pirates have had their share of stars.

This past season, defensive lineman Nick Mason etched his name in Perry lore by becoming a twotime first-team All-Ohioan.

That’s what makes Rosati’s assessment of current Perry senior Jacob Allen that much more impressive.

“Jacob Allen is the best football player I’ve ever coached. I’ll go out and say that right now,” Rosati said.

What does the 6-foot2, 225-pound senior do for the Pirates that makes him so valuable?

In truth, the shorter list might be what Allen doesn’t do.

He’s not on the Pirates’ kickoff team or the field goal/extra point unit. That’s it. Besides that, Allen is on the field.

“I play some running back, wide receiver and slot. Maybe some quarterback in the wildcat formation,” Allen said, listing the spots in which he might line up this fall for the Pirates.

The defensive assignment is easier. He’s pretty Perry’s Jacob Allen eyes a pass during the Pirates’ victory over Girard in a Division IV regional semifinal in 2017.

much a safety, though he might stick his nose in the box now and then in a linebacker look.

On special teams, he returns punts and kicks.

So it’s safe to say Perry is getting its money’s worth out of Allen.

“I did get a little tired last year when I was out of shape after I got hurt,” Allen admitted. “But I go both ways in practice, so I’m used to (the workload).”

Allen missed three games in his junior year with a meniscus tear in his right knee. He had a minor procedure to scope it out.

No matter, Allen still went on to earn first team Division IV All-Ohio honors with 37 catches for 660 yards and 10 touchdowns, while also running for 439 yards and nine touchdowns.

In all, that’s 1,099 yards and 19 touchdowns despite missing three games.

NEWS-HERALD FILE