• Follow us on Twitter @buckeyeplanet and @bp_recruiting, like us on Facebook! Enjoy a post or article, recommend it to others! BP is only as strong as its community, and we only promote by word of mouth, so share away!
  • Consider registering! Fewer and higher quality ads, no emails you don't want, access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Even if you just want to lurk, there are a lot of good reasons to register!

S Will Allen (Official Thread)

Jump to latest Follow Reply
Sort by date Sort by votes
Wayne grad Allen, a Steeler, determined to play in Super Bowl
By Tom Archdeacon, Staff Writer
Wednesday, February 2, 2011

ddn020311sparchb1_863407b.jpg

Contributed photo Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Will Allen, a former Ohio State University and Wayne High School standout, has built his reputation with his special teams play.

Initially, a knee injury suffered in the playoffs had him listed as ?questionable? for Sunday?s Super Bowl XLV, but Will Allen is treating that question mark just the way he would an opposing kick returner.

He?s knocking it flat.

?I?ve been playing in the league seven years and never come close to this game, so I?ve got to play in it now that I?m here,? the Wayne High product who joined the Pittsburgh Steelers this season was saying Wednesday night as his team took a break from preparations for its matchup with the Green Bay Packers in Arlington, Texas.

?Hopefully, now that I?m with Pittsburgh, I?ll be back at this game a lot, but you never know. This is every team?s dream in training camp.?

For Allen, the dream goes back a lot farther than that.

?Weird as it sounds, it goes way back to fourth grade,? said his dad, Keith Allen. ?That year his teacher had them all write a story about what they wanted to do in life. And I still have that paper in a suitcase upstairs with about 9,000 other things the three boys did.

?Will wrote he wanted to play for a high school championship, play for the college national title and play in the Super Bowl. And now the last of it?s about to come true.?

Back in 1999, Allen led Wayne to the state title game and then three seasons later won the national crown with Ohio State.

Now, after playing his first six NFL years with Tampa Bay, he backs up Troy Polamalu at strong safety and, as his dad put it, ?he?s a special teams assassin.?

Over the years he?s built a reputation with his special teams play. He served as the Buccaneers? special teams captain and was a special teams Pro Bowl alternate.

?I?ve never looked at special teams as bottom-of-the-barrel stuff,? Allen said. ?I played them at Wayne and all four years at Ohio State, It?s about doing what I can to help the team.?

He came to Pittsburgh as a free agent, signing a three-year deal worth $4.4 million.

?Pittsburgh was a wonderful place for me to land,? he said. ?The franchise is special, and it starts with ownership ? the way they treat you as a player ? and it trickles down. They are in the business of winning, and when you come in here, you drink that Kool-Aid ... and you win, too.

?And I like it that I?m close enough for my family to come to the games. Now they?re all wearing yellow and black and waving their Terrible Towels.?

Monica Allen, Will?s mom, laughed: ?Oh, yeah, I?ve converted over to Steeler Nation.?

Allen and his wife ? the former Nakeyia Worley, his high school sweetheart who attended Chaminade Julienne ? can come back here more, too. And Dayton is going to benefit from that.

Cont..
Click to expand...

http://www.daytondailynews.com/dayt...lay-in-super-bowl-1071301.html?cxtype=feedbot
 
Upvote 0
Wayne High School graduate, NFL player Allen driven to help youth
This fall, Will Allen Foundation will launch a grant program with Dayton Public Schools.
By Marc F. Pendleton, Staff Writer
Updated Friday, April 29, 2011

GMMORAINE03_924079c.jpg

JIM NOELKER
Wayne High School graduate and NFL Pittsburgh Steeler Will Allen ...returned to Wayne High School Thursday April 28 to launch an after-school life skills program to help Dayton kids.

HUBER HEIGHTS ? It was easy to discern Will Allen from others when he was a youth.

He was the one whose internal drive was stuck in high gear. He had a sharp focus on what he wanted to accomplish and a clear vision of how he wanted to do that.

Years later, it?s those kinds of characteristics ? and not football skills ? that Allen best enjoys sharing with youths.

?I saw that there was a gap that needed to be filled, and I wanted to help bridge it and help inspire kids to think outside of the box,? said Allen, the former Trotwood-Madison, Wayne and Ohio State star who finished his seventh season in the NFL and first with the Pittsburgh Steelers in February.

?Those who have intent and concise thought tend to be more successful, more proactive and more thoughtful about their lives.?

There have been many on-field successes in Allen?s life. A standout defensive back, he played in a Division I state title game with Wayne, helped the Buckeyes win the 2002 national championship and was with the Steelers in their Super Bowl drive last season.

But there remained a desire to serve. A deeply spiritual man, he was moved to reach out to those who needed help.

Cont...
Click to expand...

http://www.daytondailynews.com/dayt...layer-allen-driven-to-help-youth-1148915.html
 
Upvote 0
Wayne High grad, Pittsburgh Steelers safety a fan of local football
By Marc F. Pendleton, Staff Writer
Saturday, April 30, 2011

HUBER HEIGHTS ? Will Allen left a legacy of football prominence, first at Trotwood-Madison High School, then at Wayne.

He parlayed that excellence into a BCS championship and All-American senior year at Ohio State. A defensive back, he?s preparing for his eighth NFL season and second with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

One of a handful of NFL players that the Miami Valley can claim, Allen returned to Wayne last week to pitch the benefits of his Quest for Real Life Success program, the core of his Will Allen Foundation.

Allen, 28, is married to Nakeyia (Worley) Allen, a Chaminade Julienne graduate. They reside in Tampa, Fla.

Here?s what he had to say about some timely subjects.

Q: What was your NFL draft experience?

A: It was a hard and difficult day because you didn?t know what to expect. But also exciting, because you didn?t know what to expect. I had a lot of friends and news outlets at my house. The disappointing thing is I didn?t get drafted the first three rounds (went to Tampa Bay in the fourth). It?s one of those things in life that you really don?t know what to do or how to handle it.

Q: What about leaving the Buccaneers for the Steelers?

A: I was a free agent. It was a great fit in Pittsburgh. (Head coach) Mike Tomlin was my defensive backs coach in Tampa and we have a great relationship. To be reunited with him and to be a part of the Rooney family and the Pittsburgh legacy that they have was a no-brainer. And the possibility to win championships on a professional level? I couldn?t pass that up.

Q: How lucky are you to have played in a high school state final, BCS championship and Super Bowl?

A: Some guys have won all three (like former OSU teammate Mike Doss). Even though I?ve been in all three, I want to win at least two of those. I?ve been a blessed man.

Q: Did you keep up on Wayne and Braxton Miller last season?

A: Oh, yeah. It was interesting because I used to go to Trotwood and they made it to the state championship game and I went to Wayne and we made it to a state championship game. To see them both there, it was a dream come true for me. I saw the Trotwood game but I didn?t get to see Wayne.

Q: How do you explain Ohio State coach Jim Tressel and events since last December?

A: I have nothing but great things to say about him because he?s always helped and pushed me outside of football. Not disclosing information was sensitive because you?re trying to protect the players and you try to handle everything in-house. That?s how it works across the U.S. when it comes to sports, period. I think he was innocent to a fault. But you have to be held accountable for your actions.

Cont...
Click to expand...

http://www.daytondailynews.com/dayt...s-safety-a-fan-of-local-football-1149446.html
 
Upvote 0
Will Allen Recap
May 2, 2011
by Otterbein PRSSA

If you missed the lecture from Pittsburgh Steelers? safety and special team captain, Will Allen, then you missed a lot.

It was a packed room full of communications students, sports management, athletic trainers and Steelers fans. Allen talked about his education from Ohio State University and how he has continued his studies out college by attending business classes in Harvard?s School of Business and studying entrepreneurship.

Allen said that he took chose what he wanted to do, by narrowing down what he thought his strengths were. He loved business and a challenge. When he was drafted his plan turned to giving back.

?Whenever you?re in a position of leadership, you?re always in a position of service,? Allen said.

Allen?s foundation allows him to speak to and mentor kids to help them be more proactive about their future. The foundation teaches them public speaking, ACT/SAT skills and interview skills.
Your questions answered:

Q: What do you remember the most about the Super Bowl?

A: Losing [Laughs]. That?s it. Everything happens so fast you don?t get to enjoy the moment. Once you get there, there?s family, friends, media, tickets, practice and all this other stuff. You wake up and you have to here and there. It was a great experience, but the most memorable thing was losing. That really stuck in my mind.

Q: What do you think about the recent Coach Tressel allegations?

A: I think he?s a really good man. He?s has great character, great integrity and I?ve learned a lot from him. He taught me about leadership, he taught me about giving back, he taught me about leadership and the importance of education. Everyone makes mistakes, everyone does something to mess up and we?re all guilty of that. He was protecting his players. He has this fatherly role. I think he?s accepted his responsibility and took accountability for his actions.
Click to expand...

http://otterbeinprssa.wordpress.com/2011/05/02/will-allen-recap/
 
Upvote 0
Former Buckeye & Current Steeler Will Allen Describes Time With Jim Tressel
May 31, 2011

PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) ? Steelers Safety and former Ohio St. Buckeye Will Allen joined Seibel, Starkey and Miller on Sportsradio 93-7 The FAN to talk about his relationship with Jim Tressel and how he feels about everything that is happening at his alma mater.

Will understands Tressel did some things wrong by withholding information from the NCAA, but wishes that everyone could know Tressel like he does because he has done nothing but mold kids into men and helped them become better people.

Will also wants people to look at Tressel?s entire body of work rather than just this one incident when judging him, and said that everyone makes mistakes and Tressel is no different.

Cont..
Click to expand...

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2011...r-will-allen-describes-time-with-jim-tressel/
 
Upvote 0
Ex-Buccaneer DB Allen Stays Loyal To The Vest
Monday, June 6, 2011
Written By: NFL Blog Blitz

It has been just one week since Jim Tressel resigned as head football coach at Ohio State, yet his absence can already be felt by his former players now in the NFL like former Buccaneers safety Will Allen.

Allen, who starred on OSU?s 2002 national championship team, was in Columbus this week training at team facilities when he recalled a very special gift Coach Tressel gave to him and his teammates. It was called the "Winners' Manual."

Filled with Tressel's favorite motivational quotes and inspirational anecdotes, it's a cherished item among Buckeye players, including Allen, who still has his own copy today, eight years after graduation.

"It teaches you how to be a winner in life, not just on the football field," says Allen, whose favorite quote from the book reads, "You get as your work deserves. You win with people."

?He would give one out [to everybody]," Allen says. "If a former player wanted one, he would send one to you if you contacted him."

Cont...
Click to expand...

http://blogblitz.nfl.com/tampa-bay-buccaneers/entry/06062011_will_allen_jim_tressel
 
Upvote 0
6/8/2011
NFL player 'gives back' through Will Allen Foundation
By GREG SMART
Editor

156220a.jpg

Wayne football coach Jay Minton presents Will Allen with some Wayne gear so that Pittsburgh Steelers players will know he graduated from Wayne.

156220b.jpg

Will Allen addresses the Community Appreciation Dinner.

Will Allen, a Wayne graduate and NFL player, relishes the opportunity to give back to the community through the Will Allen Foundation.

He also gave back Thursday night by speaking at the Community Appreciation Dinner, held at the Huber Heights Athletic Foundation. The purpose of this free event was to show appreciation to all of the donors, partners and volunteers who support the Wayne High School athletic programs throughout the year and was sponsored by Wayne High School Athletic Department, Huber Heights Athletic Foundation and Huber Heights Chamber of Commerce.

Allen told the Courier that the opportunity to speak was "awesome."

"The nolstagia, just remembering Huber Heights- what the community means, what the leaders are doing to preserve the excellence, preserve what's going on with our students, with our people that are producing greatness every year. You hear the stories, year in and year out, of the people excelling scholastically and athletically. I'm just grateful to be a part of it and great just to experience the opportunities that were given to me throughout the community."

The Will Allen Foundation is hosting two free skills enhancement camps for high school students in the area, one was last weekend and the second is July 16 at Wayne High School. The coaching staff consists of active and former NFL and Ohio State University players.

"I'm really excited because it's a way of me giving back-a way of the kids seeing somebody who came through Huber Heights, somebody who graduated and went on to Ohio State that came from the same community as them. Cut from the same cloth and showing them that they can make it."

Through his foundation, Allen will be working with upcoming freshman with the program "Quest for Real Life Success." that he and friend Labrawn Saffold developed in 2006, while playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Quest is an after-school program designed to prepare high school students for life after graduation. Fifty students were invited for the inaugural class this fall and the foundation hopes to continue to add students each year until the program is running for all four grade levels.

Allen was asked what he is hoping to impart to them.

"Just so they can create a solid foundation for the next four years of their life, and beyond," he said. "I think it's imperative at a young age to have people around you that can give you advice, that can mentor you, and also, give you choices and decision making so that you can be better and be more proactive in life."

Cont..
Click to expand...

http://www.tcnewsnet.com/main.asp?SectionID=3&SubSectionID=3&ArticleID=156220
 
Upvote 0
7/22/2011

156326a.jpg

Braxton Miller, Kurt Coleman, Earnest Tucker and Will Allen were just a few members of the staff for the 2011 Will Allen Foundation Football Skills Camp held at Wayne High School on Saturday.
Wayne hosts Will Allen Foundation
By JAMES BAKER
Sports Writer

Wayne High School was the setting for the Will Allen Foundation football camp held on July 16 at Heidkamp Stadium in Huber Heights. High-fives, exhausted participants and memorable moments were prevalent throughout the three-hour event.

The 1999 graduate of the red and black and current member of the Pittsburgh Steelers kicked off the festivities by grabbing a megaphone and shouting positive advice toward the dozens in attendance from both Wayne and Trotwood-Madison (Allen was a Rams player before transferring to Wayne for his senior season). Northmont was also invited to attend but could not make it due to a previous commitment.

"I'm really excited that the community of Huber Heights and Coach (Jay) Minton allow me to do this," said Allen. "I'm just grateful to be given the opportunity to impact young kids like this. We do whatever we can, whether it be sending cleats to underprivileged kids or running a camp like today, we do whatever we can. I'm very thankful this city has been gracious enough to let me do it."

The hands-on camp split into each player into their area of expertise on a warm, muggy summer morning. Along with Allen, current Ohio State and Wayne quarterback Braxton Miller was on hand, along with former Buckeyes Michael Doss, Kurt Coleman (Northmont and currently of the Philadelphia Eagles) and former Warrior Earnest Tucker.

"This is a great event and I am excited to be here helping out Will as well as teaching all these young players," said Coleman. "Giving back to the community is important and I enjoy looking at them and seeing how devoted and hungry they are to better themselves."

Also on hand was NFL offensive tackle and Dunbar graduate Na'Shan Goddard, who impressed those in attendance three-fold. His sense of humor that consistenly was making jokes, many of which were poking good-natured fun at Allen. Also daunting was his 6-5, 320-pound stature, but the thing that garnered the most attention all was his two Super Bowl rings (one with the New York Giants and one with the New Orleans Saints), which he proudly displayed throughout.

Wayne head coach Jay Minton had a chance to relax while enjoying a rare off day at the stadium. He had nothing but praise for his former player and those who came out to support him.

"It's awesome to see a guy come back here and give back to these kids and this community like this," said Minton. "It is neat to see how these kids have grown up and become young men. Someone probably did something like this for them so it is great to see them give the same opportunity to these young kids. And I'll tell you what, they worked these kids pretty good. A lot of them could probably become pretty good football coaches if they wanted to."

Those who participated enjoyed not only food but a free t-shirt at the end of the camp. More importantly they soaked in a lifetime of memories and new friendships. Nerves were the norm at the beginning as passes were dropped and blocks missed, but the players were reassured and they quickly relaxed and performed up to their abilities.

Allen said he looks forward to doing the camp for years to come and loves to help the up-and-coming players like he once was.

"It is all about empowering these young kids and serving people," added Allen. "God has given me a wealth of gifts and talents and it is a pleasure to share them with these kids."
Click to expand...

http://www.tcnewsnet.com/main.asp?SectionID=3&SubSectionID=3&ArticleID=156326
 
Upvote 0
Wayne grad savors role with Steelers
By Tom Archdeacon, Staff writer
Monday, November 14, 2011

CINCINNATI ? The take-no-guff rivalry between the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers flared up Sunday with just under eight minutes left in the second quarter.

The Bengals had just punted the ball away, Pittsburgh?s Antonio Brown made a fair catch and the next thing you saw were two Cincinnati players, Brandon Johnson and Brian Leonard, tussling near the sideline with a lone Steelers special teams player.

The vocal Pittsburgh fans ? who made up more than a third of the crowd of 63,262 at Paul Brown Stadium ? waved their yellow Terrible Towels and roared their protestations. Some of the most animated of them happened to be a small knot of Dayton-area folks sitting in the very top tier of seats at the stadium.

Monica Allen, a physical therapist at Miami Valley Hospital who lives in Franklin, wore her special black Steelers jersey and yelled at the officials, letting them know the Bengals had been holding the Pittsburgh player?s shirt.

Next to Monica was her mother Ruth Tillman of Jefferson Twp. and she was just as passionate in her support.

?Yeah, we yelled,? Monica would say later, ?that?s our boy out there.?

cont...
Click to expand...

http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/s...e-grad-savors-role-with-steelers-1284118.html
 
Upvote 0
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top