A shifty running back with very good top end speed is what the Ole Miss Rebels gained on Thursday with the verbal commitment from Andre Allen.
Allen became the fifth player to verbally commit to the Rebels for the 2012 class and the second in less than a week. The 5-foot-9, 178-pound Allen is coming off a standout season at Arnold High in Panama City, Fla. Allen finished the 2010 season with 2,150 yards and 19 rushing touchdowns. He averaged almost 8.7 yards per carry and caught 11 passes for 169 yards and three touchdowns
Allen, who also played cornerback, had three games where he rushed for more than 300 yards and was only held under 100 yards rushing one time in 10 games last year as a junior. He finished the season with 26 total touchdowns and rushed for 220 yards and three touchdowns on just 18 carries against current Ole Miss running back Enrique Davis’ former high school, Lynn Haven.
Allen’s recent success garnered a lot of interest from college recruiters, while his speed (4.4 seconds in 40-yard dash) and performance at a recent combine held in Tallahassee (Fla.) only increased his stock heading into his senior season.
James Hale, Allen’s coach at Arnold, told the Panama City News Herald that his standout running back was the complete package.
“He has the best lateral movement probably of any back I’ve seen. His lateral movement and acceleration and quickness are just outstanding,” Hale said in the interview. “He’s a strong runner and can take a pounding. And he can dish it out, too. He has all the tools.” (May 6, 2011, Page 7A)
