Allen shines at Elite 11 Regional Camp

FORT WORTH, Texas – The 2009 class is rich with quarterback talent in the state of Texas so the campus of TCU served as a fitting environment for the kickoff event of the Elite 11 Quarterback Camps. However, despite several players in attendance with some long offer sheets, one of the best performances on the day came from a player with only one offer from New Mexico State.

Drew Allen out of San Antonio (Texas) Alamo Heights took the Elite 11 Golden Gun award in the accuracy competition but even before winning the showcase event, Allen had put together a solid day on the TCU campus.

"I think it went pretty well," Allen said. "Like I told everybody else, I think I just carried over what my coaches told me. I think this was just a big opportunity to show everybody what I've got and everything. I just kind of put it into work."

Among the players that Allen was competing against were four-star dual-threat star Shavodrick Beaver, TCU commit Casey Pachall, Friendswood, Texas dual-threat star Jacob Karam and several other quarterbacks with long lists of scholarship offers. The competition brought out the best in Allen.

"I'm surrounded by some great competition," he said. "The camp brings so many good athletes in here that you just have to push yourself. I think that's what I did today."

Allen stands at a sturdy 6-foot-5 and has good quick feet in his drops and gets the ball out quickly. Clearly, based on the Golden Gun honor, he is accurate as well. However, what does Allen feel is his greatest asset?

"I think my strength in my arm," he said. "I think I throw a pretty hard ball. A lot of my receivers are starting to get used to it and I think on the next level it will help having a stronger arm."

There are still a lot of things Allen hopes to improve on before his senior season and before he takes off for college and he has a private coach that is helping him make those improvements. Sonny Detmer, father to Koy and Ty Detmer is has been working with Allen for several years and it shows in his precise mechanics.

"I've been working with him for about six or seven years," Allen said. "I had a lesson with him yesterday. He's brought me a long way. Of course my quarterback coach at my school, Kelly Parker, he's great too. There's so many drills we do. He pushes us and makes us better.

"I think I've got the arm down but you can never be perfect you can never be too accurate. I'll be working on that and my footwork. That's what Coach Detmer emphasizes the most."

With as many tools as Allen has and as polished as his passing game is, it is hard to believe that the signal-caller is sitting with only one scholarship offer but that may soon change.

"I've only got one scholarship offer from New Mexico State," he said. "From Coach Mummie, that's a big honor I think. That's a top passing offense. They're top five or maybe top three last year. I've been hearing from Wake Forest, Yale from the Ivy League, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, Texas A&M and Ole Miss."

Asked for what he is looking for in a program, Allen has a clear idea of the three factors that will be in play.

"I want a passing school," he said. "I'm looking for a academics, a passing school and coaches in that order."

As of now, Allen plans to attend the Ultimate 100 Camp sponsored by Rivals.com on May 9th and 10th. He also is looking forward to Spring football practice for the first time at Alamo Heights since its move up to Texas' 4A classification.

"I'm excited for spring ball," he said. "I'm excited to throw on some pads and start throwing the ball around. Maybe some college coaches will come by."

If Allen continues to play like he did on Friday afternoon, he won't have to wait long for the colleges to jump on board.