He claimed the job with a strong spring practice effort, and he made it his own with a stellar senior year.
Ohio State strong safety Will Allen turned what could have been the first-time starter blues into a winning tune, succeeding at the impossible task of replacing a superstar.
Allen came into the season tabbed to start in the spot of former strong safety Mike Doss–now starting as a rookie with the Indianapolis Colts–a three-year starter and a three-time All-American during his Ohio State career.
Allen finished second on the team with 79 tackles and add two interceptions while earning All-Big Ten and All-America honors.
“I wasn’t focused on `Is he going to be able to take the place of Mike Doss and (former free safety) Donnie Nickey?’ because that,” Allen said, would have been negative.
Coach Jim Tressel wasn’t worried.
“Will Allen had played a lot of plays,” Tressel said of his primary nickel back last season. “His performance back there as the leader of the secondary has given us the chance to win some games.”
Allen, who also played baseball and ran track before arriving at Ohio State, didn’t limit his challenges to the football field. Last spring, Allen, a huge Stevie Wonder fan, began teaching himself to play the piano.
“I love his music and I love everything about him, so that was my inspiration,” Allen said.
