My interview with a talented player that can play DE and OLB position. One thing for sure, the changing of the 4-3 to the 3-4 this year only shows the NFL teams that Allen sure can learn the system and would be a great fit where ever he lands in the National Football League. Here is my interview with Allen.
What year were you born?
1992
Where were you born?
Lexington, Kentucky
When did you start playing football?
I was 6 years old. 1998.
What does football mean to you?
Everything, I love everything about the game. The build up to the game. The adrenaline when I exit the locker room to play in a game. Everything about football just excites me. I love making big plays and making the crowd go wild. Football is a blessing.
Were you a starter or backup player when you first started playing football?
I was a starter. Haha. I played for the Constitution Patriots in Lexington, Kentucky and I was a running back. Me and this other kid named Michael Baffour who actually now plays for the Louisville Cardinal basketball team and was apart of their NCAA championship run in 2013. We were the feature backs.
What was your biggest accomplishment at Pueblo East High School?
Firstly, my last game of my high school career, the football game went into overtime and I got the ball first play and scored the game-winning touchdown. Also, Winning south central league Defensive MVP & lastly, playing in the state championship game against Sierra High School in a losing effort finishing 2nd in state. Best experience ever though.
Why did you decide to play for Colorado State University-Pueblo?
I wasn’t recruited by many schools. I had a preferred walk on to play at CU-Boulder. Didn’t feel like I wanted to be a walk-on to a team. Coaches John Wristen, Paul Creighton had great things planned for me in I chose to join the Thunderwolves. Also, my cousin was in his Senior year at CSU-Pueblo so he urged me to join him and play there with him.
Can you name any awards/honors you have received while playing at Colorado State University-Pueblo?
3 Conference Championships. 42 straight regular season wins. Gene Upshaw Award. All-American for every All-American team. Colorado Defensive Player of the year. National Defensive Player of the year honors.
What did it mean to be named Gene Upshaw Division II lineman of the year?
It meant the world to me. I’ve worked extremely hard to get to this point in my career and I’ve had great friends who helped me better myself on the field. Ryan Jensen (Ravens) toughened me up quite a bit slamming me into the dirt my freshman and sophomore year. Michael Pennel (Packers) freed up many gaps for me during that season allowing me to run around and make plays. The Gene Upshaw put the stamp on how hard I’ve worked throughout my career.
What has been your biggest accomplishment as an athlete?
I’d say just being blessed with the opportunity to get on the field as a kid and play the game. Lord knows my grandma didn’t want me playing such a physical sport. So yea suiting up for the first time as a kid is my biggest accomplishment as an athlete. If that never happened we wouldn’t be talking about me and football today.
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/537957/darius-allen
What keeps you motivated?
My family. Knowing where I’ve come from and how far I have came improving my life everyday. I know it’ll can all be over one day so I just want to continue to make the most out of each day. Knowing the chance I have. That’s my motivation.
What would you say is your biggest strengths on the field?
My speed and ability to stay relentless throughout a pursuit.
Do you feel you have any weakness?
Yes, everyone has weaknesses but I can’t tell you. Haha.
Can you provide any struggles you have faced in your life?
What would playing in the National Football League mean to you and your school?
It’d mean we as a program and I as a person have accomplished great things. I play for a program who wasn’t even a program before 2008 and we’ve taken the nation by storm on this level with the passion in our play. I am a person who’s been through a lot and overcome adversity like many others in the NFL countless times but I continue to stay focused on the ultimate goal. It means we’ve solidified our name throughout the nation and people are beginning to take notice. We’ve had a guy make a roster in each of the last two years. 3 in a row would be amazing.
Will you enter the 2015 NFL draft?
Yes. This is my final year of college.
Any last words you like to give?
For all the student athletes out there, continue to work hard and overcome. Your day is near.
NFL PROSPECTS 