Stone Bridge DL Jonathan Allen, a two-time All-Met and top recruit, says final list is now at five
Stone Bridge two-time
All-Met defensive lineman
Jonathan Allen thought he had gotten
most of the recruiting attention he would get.
More than 25 scholarship offers had come to the 6-3, 225-pound defensive end, and last month he cut his list to two schools:
Florida and Alabama.
Since then, however, the recruiting action has only increased. More than 45 coaches with interest in Allen visited Stone Bridge in the last two weeks, and so the junior took stock once again. On Thursday, Allen said he will focus on five schools: Florida, Alabama, Virginia Tech, Penn State and Ohio State.
“Looking at those schools, I feel like those give the best opportunities for me,” said Allen, who is planning on visiting Alabama in the next two weeks. “What they do defensively and everything else. Those are where I want to look.”
The process had become nearly impossible for Allen and Stone Bridge Coach Mickey Thompson to manage. A mailbox set up especially for Allen overflows each day. The visits and phone calls are non-stop.
According to Thompson the message has been clear: If Allen is interested in a school, then that school’s football team wants him.
“If you wanted to count,” Thompson said. “The offers would be in the 50s or 60s.”
One factor in casting a bit of a wider net may have been a visit to Virginia Tech for the spring football game, which impressed Allen.
Interestingly, Ohio State had not yet offered Allen when he made his list this week. During his sophomore season, however, Allen told a reporter that the Buckeyes were a favorite program to some in his family.
Thompson said Ohio State had not offered only because the Buckeyes did not know about Allen’s interest. Allen, who racked up 192 tackles and 35 sacks in two seasons, originally told Thompson not to reach out because he was unsure about the coaching change.
The junior said he no longer has any concerns, and Thompson said he was preparing to call Ohio State.
“I’m sure the situation will change in the next day,” Thompson said on Thursday.
One hour later, Thompson texted an update: “Ohio State offered Jon.”
