The Pacific Northwest is featuring two of the premier small college players in the nation, and are tight ends. With teams placing more emphasis in the passing game at the position, Allan and Western Oregon's Kevin Boss have drawn considerable attention from professional scouts for their all-around game.
Despite a lack of top-level competition, Allan not only dominated his opponents on a weekly basis, but also fared quite well in post-season all-star games, making a lot of NFL offensive coordinators take notice. Even though he played four seasons at Whitworth, he saw limited action as a freshman, not catching any passes. But he made up for lost time the last three years and closed out his career as the school's record holder for yards gained per catch (18.7 avg) and career touchdown receptions (29).
Allan attended Interlake High School, where he was a receiver in a wing-T offense that rarely threw the ball. The team finished his senior season with a 0-9 record, causing Allan to not be recruited by any of the major colleges for football. He was more recognized for his basketball skills and could have attended a major university on a hoops scholarship, but had his heart set on playing football.
He enrolled at Whitworth in 2002, spending the season on the scout team as a wide receiver at 213 pounds. Allan grew out of that position and shifted to tight end in 2003, but saw just limited action in seven games. He appeared strictly on special teams and did not catch any passes.
In 2004, Allan earned All-Northwest Conference honors after taking over starting tight end duties, as he would go on to start his next 29 contests. He finished third on the team with 29 receptions for 409 yards (14.1 avg) and five touchdowns. He earned AFCA All-American honors in 2005, as Allan led the conference with a 19.2-yard average on 36 catches for 693 yards in eight games. He also set the school single-season record with 15 touchdown receptions.
Allan was again named All-American by the AFCA in 2006, along with receiving his third consecutive All-NWC honor. He hauled in a career-high 53 passes and became the second player in school history to gain more than 1,000 yards receiving (1,100) in a season. He also had nine scoring grabs.
Allan started 29 of 36 games at Whitworth. He caught 118 passes for 2,202 yards (18.7 avg) with a school career record 29 touchdowns. He scored 174 points and also recorded three tackles (two solos) on special teams.
Analysis
Positives: Has a tall, adequately muscled frame that is reaching maximum growth potential, but shows good arm length and adequate lower body thickness Knows how to use his frame to shield defenders from the ball, and while he lacks quick twitch moves he builds to top speed nicely and has the balance and body control to flex out as a receiver in some passing situations Shows better urgency going for the ball than as a blocker, but readily adjusts to defensive formations to locate the soft area in the zone Shows good arm extension and toughness going up for the ball in traffic Has solid swim moves off the line of scrimmage to escape the jam Uses his power efficiently to disengage from defenders and is aware of the ball in flight while running his patterns Not a sudden mover off the line, but gets into his routes nicely once he beats the press Has the functional short-area quickness to separate underneath and makes proper body adjustments coming back for the off-target tosses Has the arm length (33.5-inches) and soft hands to go along with decent leaping agility to attack the ball at its high point Has deceptive speed to gobble up the cushion, but is more effective getting open in the zone than vs. man coverage Efficient target inside the red zone, using his long arms and stride to excel on crossing routes Natural hands catcher who has the ability to pluck and adjust to off-target throws Bit of a long strider, but gets downfield and excels at making the over-the-shoulder grabs Uses his functional leg drive to break tackles (but has not been challenged by the physical defenders to gauge if he can do so vs. better competition) Does a good job of securing the ball and bracing for the hit after the catch Has the overall body flexibility to catch the high or low throws with ease of movement More of a space occupier as a blocker, but knows how to drop his weight and keep his pads low to anchor and get in the way of the action Shows good concentration skills looking the ball in Runs hard after the catch and is alert to open areas when operating in traffic.
Negatives: Never really challenged at this low level of competition Lacks that sudden burst off the snap, relying on swim moves to escape the press Still has to greatly improve his blocking skills as he's only a marginal blocker who does nothing more than get in the way rather than overpower Lacks the initial quickness to come off the snap with explosion Needs room to operate in order to get into his routes Takes a lot of soft angle cuts (used mostly on crossing routes) and needs to develop better moves (lacks hip snap) trying to escape in man coverage Bit high-cut and this prevents him from sinking his pads and anchoring well against the bull rush Used mostly on crossing, controlled and streak routes, lacking the explosive burst to get to the deep throws Needs to improve his upper body strength and hand placement, as he can be pushed back into the pocket in pass protection Needs to show more aggression (not a contact seeker, preferring to avoid rather than engage) Lacks good plant-and-drive agility to come out of his breaks cleanly Must improve his hand punch and play with his head up when firing off the snap.
Compares To: MATT SCHOBEL-Philadelphia Allan shows promise, a decent-sized frame and willingness to improve, but is far from a finished product. He is a decent short-to-intermediate receiver, but needs to get more aggressive vs. the physical press he will face at the next level. Despite his size, he is a marginal blocker who must improve his overall strength. He brings good value as a third-down receiver working underneath, but needs route running refinement, as he rounds his cuts too often.
Career Notes
Holds the school career record with 29 touchdown receptions, topping the previous mark of 24 by Sam Adams (1948-51) His 15 touchdown catches in 2005 broke the old Whitworth single-season record of 13 by Doug Long in 1975 His 15 total touchdowns that year equaled the school single-season record first set by John Murio in 1961 Allan's 18.7-yard average per catch topped the previous school career record of 17.3 yards by Matt Stueckle (1996-99) Holds the school single-game record with 251 yards receiving vs. Puget Sound in 2006, topping the previous mark of 219 yards by Wayne Ralph vs. Willamette in 1986 and matched by Jason Tobeck vs. Willamette in 1993 Began a string of 12 consecutive games with at least one touchdown reception (from the 11/13/04 Pacific Lutheran game to the 9/16/06 La Verne clash).
2006 Season
Little All-American first-team selection by The NFL Draft Report and the Associated Press Added Division III All-American first-team honors from the American Football Coaches Association Earned All-Northwest Conference first-team honors for the third consecutive year Led the NWC in touchdown receptions (9) and yards per catch average (20.8), as Allan led the team with a career-high 53 catches, gaining 1,100 yards Also recorded three tackles (2 solos) on special teams while starting all twelve games Gained over 100 yards receiving in five contests.
2006 Game Analysis
Redlands Opened the season with 80 yards and a pair of scores on five catches, producing the team's first touchdown for the season three minutes into the game when he caught a 19-yarder from QB Joel Clark that ended a 5-play, 62-yard drive Added a 31-yard touchdown to cap a 74-yard, 9-play drive in the third quarter Also tackled Cam Adkins on an early third quarter 22-yard punt return.
La Verne Snared four passes for 60 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown that concluded a 74-yard, 5-play first quarter drive, as the offense generated 454 yards.
Wisconsin-Stout Totaled 108 yards on six receptions Tackled Shawn Korth on a second quarter 22-yard punt return Had a string of twelve consecutive games with at least one touchdown catch snapped.
Azusa Pacific Added 56 yards on three grabs.
Pacific Lutheran Had a single-season high eight receptions for 145 yards, with a long of 34.
Lewis & Clark Grabbed three passes for 53 yards and a 34-yard score midway through the second quarter, as the Pirates amassed 490 yards.
Menlo College Made four catches for 60 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown with 1:48 left in the game.
Willamette Caught five passes for 124 yards and a pair of touchdowns Scored on a fourth-&-4 toss from QB Joel Clark that netted 33 yards as time expired in the first quarter and then caught a 16-yard scoring strike from QB Jon Luke to end a 10-play, 73-yard drive in the second quarter.
Linfield Had his lowest amount of catches since the 2005 season opener, as Allan caught just two balls for 51 yards Teamed with Brandon Martin to tackle Josh Vierra on a 1-yard punt return in the fourth quarter.
Puget Sound Set the school game-record with 251 yards on six receptions, topping the old Whitworth mark of 219 yards, first set by Wayne Ralph vs. Willamette in 1986 and matched by Jason Tobeck vs. Willamette in 1993 QB Joel Clark hit Allan with a 74-yard touchdown bomb on the game's first play from scrimmage With 1:46 left in the first half, Clark fired a 66-yard scoring strike to his tight end.
Occidental (NCAA Division III Playoffs) For just the third time in his 29-game string as a starter, Allan did not have a multiple catch game, as he was limited to just an 11-yard grab.
St. John's, Minnesota (NCAA Division III Playoffs) Closed out his career with 101 yards on six catches.
2005 Season
All-American first-team selection by the American Football Coaches Association All-Northwest Conference first-team choice Added All-Western Region first-team honors Led the league with an 18.7-yard average on 36 receptions for 693 yards Set the school single-season record by hauling in fifteen touchdown passes while starting all eight games Became the first player in school history to catch at least one touchdown pass in every game during a season.
2005 Game Analysis
Redlands Caught a slant pass from QB Joel Clark for an 11-yard score, ending the day with 32 yards on two grabs.
La Verne Made five catches for 94 yards and three touchdowns, including a 28-yarder over the middle of the field on a fourth-&-1 toss from Joel Clark late in the third quarter.
Eastern Oregon Fumbled a pass at midfield with 2:15 left in the game, but had nine catches for 89 yards and a 7-yard score.
Linfield Gained 114 yards on three catches, including touchdowns of 61 yards on a quick screen pass down the right sideline in the first quarter and 29 yards on a fourth-&-1 toss with 0:54 left in the game.
Puget Sound Had four receptions for 82 yards and three touchdowns as the team totaled 543 yards in a 46-27 triumph.
Menlo College Followed with five catches for a single-season high 156 yards and a pair of touchdowns, grabbing a 27-yarder on fourth down early in the second quarter and an 82-yarder with 0:26 left before halftime as the offense amassed 472 yards.
Willamette Snared five passes for 94 yards a scored on a quick screen in the first quarter, breaking two tackles en route to a 71-yard touchdown.
Pacific Lutheran Grabbed three passes for 32 yards and two scores His 1-yard touch-down catch late in the first quarter saw him break the school single-season record for most scoring grabs (14) and he added another touchdown in the fourth quarter with a 20-yard snatch.
2004 Season
All-Northwest Conference first-team selection in his first season as a starter, moving to tight end during the off-season Finished third on the team with 29 receptions for 409 yards (14.1 avg) and five touchdowns in nine games.
2004 Game Analysis
Redlands Allan's first career start also produced his first collegiate catches, as he made five grabs for 52 yards and a 6-yard touchdown on a fourth-&-1 toss from QB Joel Clark that ended a 12-play, 67-yard drive in the third quarter.
Linfield Had his first 100-yard performance, gaining 109 yards on five catches, including a 65-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
Puget Sound Added a 12-yard touchdown grab that concluded a 7-play, 64-yard first quarter drive, finishing with 84 yards on five receptions.
Lewis & Clark His only catch was good for an 18-yard score.
Pacific Lutheran Closed out the season with six catches for 58 yards, including a 6-yard score that gave the Pirates a 38-35 victory.
2003 Season
Appeared in seven games, seeing action mostly on special teams Did not catch any passes.
2002 Season
Redshirted as as freshman, spending the season as a wide receiver on the scout team.
Injury Report
1998: Suffered a concussion (October) during his high school freshman year.
1999: Bothered by a partial meniscus tear in his knee during high school.
2000: Suffered a broken finger as a junior at Interlake High.
Agility Tests
Campus: 4.68 in the 40-yard dash 320-pound bench press Bench pressed 225 pounds 14 times 4.38 20-yard shuttle 7.37 three-cone drill 35.5-inch vertical jump 33 1/2-inch arm length 9 1/4-inch hands Left-handed 23/36 Wonderlic score.
Attended Interlake (Bellevue, Wash.) High School, playing football for head coach Hoover Hopkins Was a receiver in a wing-T offense that rarely threw the ball The team finished his senior season with a 0-9 record Also lettered in basketball.
Personal
Mass Communications/Journalism major Born 9/08/83 Resides in Bellevue, Washington.