Allen Officially a Buckeye
Dionte Allen nearly became a Buckeye out of high school. Instead it took him four years to find his way to Columbus, but the Orchard Lake, Mich. product is finally at Ohio State.
?We tried to recruit him out of high school and we had a relationship and he has two teammates here,? Tressel said of Allen, who started one game for the Buckeyes last season.
A highly-touted cornerback, Allen opted to sign with Florida State but dealt with injury issues and never really fit the system. The Seminoles are loaded at corner heading into 2010?including true freshman Lamarcus Joyner, who Buckeye fans should remember?and Allen decided it was time for a change.
?He would pop up here occasionally. When he decided that he wanted to get back closer to home, that was the No. 1 factor,? Tressel said.
?Can he come in and help us? Ask me that after I've seen him for 10 or 11 weeks on the scout team.?
A redshirt junior out of St. Mary?s High School, the same school that produced OSU wideout Taurian Washington and safety Aaron Gant, Allen will have one year of eligibility remaining according to Tressel. While the Buckeyes do lose both starting cornerbacks after this year, another major factor in bringing Allen in was the fact he has excelled in the classroom despite not seeing much time on the field.
?His attitude is great and he's a fine young guy and he wants to get his degree,? Tressel said.
?He did a good job academically at Florida State so he transfers right in and he'll be on target and maybe even get beyond his bachelor's (degree), so it was a positive thing.?
