Allen ready for summer visits

Minnetonka (Minn.) three-star defensive tackle Beau Allen has added several new offers this spring and could be on the verge of adding a couple more before the summer. Now, the 6-2, 300-pound prospect is starting to move into the next phase of his recruitment, one that involves more unofficial visits.

"I've got Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Stanford, Nebraska, Vanderbilt and UCLA just recently offered me," Allen reported. "I feel like there are a couple more that will come soon. Iowa State, Northwestern and Michigan State, those schools are really interested, but I don't know if they've offered yet."

Allen found out about his newest offer, from UCLA, just last week during a conversation with one of the Bruins' assistant coaches.

"That one kind of surprised me," Allen said. "It was definitely an exciting offer. I spoke with Coach (Todd) Howard recently and he said he was really impressed with the tape."

Now with two offers from Pac-10 programs, Allen is seriously looking to consider West Coast schools, and that will involve getting a chance to visit those campuses in person.

"I have yet to get out to the West Coast, but that is one of the trips I'd like to make," Allen said. "There are a few other schools I am interested in out there as well like Stanford and Oregon. I don't really think I can give it a fair evaluation until I can take a trip there and that's something I want to do this summer."

At this point, Allen knows of one camp he will for sure attend, but he also expects that number to grow in the next few weeks.

"The one I am probably going to go to is Notre Dame. I just talked to Coach (Rob) Ianello and that is something I want to do and I think it would be a good experience for me," Allen said. "I might be going to the Michigan State camp, I might go to the West Coast for a UCLA, Oregon or Stanford Camp and then maybe a Michigan camp or Ohio State's. I'm not sure exactly."

While campus evaluations are important to Allen's recruitment, his responsibilities to his Minnetonka teammates takes precedence.

"The important thing for me this year is focusing on my high school team," Allen said. "It is going to be my fourth year as a starter and I am a team captain. I really want to take my high school team to the next level, because during the years I have been part of the team we haven't made it out of our Section. So, I really want to be a good leader and stick around this summer as much as I can."

Allen's responsibilities to his high school team will also dictate when he eventually makes his college selection.

"Right now my timeline is to wait until after the season because I want to take official visits after my senior year and make sure I feel comfortable and feel I am making the right choice," Allen said. "I am going to start narrowing it down over the summer.

"Some schools have an advantage over others. I've been able to visit Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Nebraska, so obviously those schools would have a slight edge right now because I've been able to see them in person, but that does not mean I am not interested in the other schools. I've just got to see those other schools too."