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SALT LAKE CITY — Two weeks remain between now and when the Utes will host the SUU Thunderbirds to kick off the 2016 football campaign. With that, KSL.com continues its countdown leading up to the season with No. 14 — senior cornerback Brian Allen.
Having to share the spotlight with players like Marcus Williams, Chase Hansen and Dominique Hatfield, Allen sometimes gets left out when talking about the Utah secondary, which is convenient considering he’s the biggest at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds.
Like Hatfield, Allen started off as a receiver when he first came to the program, but after two years, one of them being a redshirt, he converted to the defensive side of the ball. Last year was his first full year of production, playing in every game and starting in three of them. He compiled 26 tackles, three pass breakups and one interception in 2015.
Allen has yet to become a regular starter for the Utes, but it’s not all entirely his fault due to the depth of the position in the program. He currently sits behind Reggie Porter in Utah’s most recent depth chart. Clearly blessed with the physical tools to be a major contributor, Allen should replicate his stats from a season ago, and maybe then some, if he can unlock all his potential.
He may not be a regular starter, but don’t be surprised to see him spot start in certain situations. Though he may not be the team’s best cover corner, Allen might provide the best chance against players like USC’s JuJu Smith-Schuster, who towers over some of Utah’s other corners in Hatfield, Porter or Justin Thomas.
Side note: Already the tallest cornerback on the team, the 6-3 Allen boasts a 35-inch vertical leap, which could serve him well in his quest for playing time this season.
Here are some of Allen's highlights from last year’s spring game.
Twitter: @GriffDoug
