Patrick Allen to Georgia: Bulldogs Land 4-Star OL Prospect
Normally, waiting until the last minute is a surefire way for things to blow up in your face. Instead, Georgia got a late boost as it looks to bolster its offensive line for 2015.
Four-star offensive tackle Patrick Allen committed to the Bulldogs on Wednesday, per Georgia's official Twitter feed:
According to 247Sports' composite rankings, Allen is the 18th-best OT in the 2015 class and 213th-best player overall. With many of the best offensive linemen pledging their collegiate allegiance already, Mark Richt will certainly be thrilled that he was able to get such a talented player so late into the recruiting process.
Allen had originally committed to Georgia all the way back in August but chose to open up the process all over again in early January:
"Just decommited from UGA I appreciate the coaching staff and all the opportunities given to me but right now I need to think
— Patrick allen (@apatrickallen14) January 3, 2015"
247Sports' Jake Rowe wrote that the departures of Mike Bobo and Will Friend helped to unsettle Allen. Bobo, Georgia's former offensive coordinator, left to become the head coach at Colorado State and took Friend with him to be the Rams' offensive coordinator.
One of Allen's best assets is his athleticism, at least for somebody pushing nearly 300 pounds. He's pretty light on his feet and able to move laterally, which will help him deal with pass-rushers coming off the edge.
In terms of strength and power, Allen is a bit lacking. As a result, he can struggle at times as a run-blocker. At 6'5", though, he has more than enough room to add some muscle to his frame once he hits college.
Once he gets stronger, Allen will also likely become better when engaged with a defender. His hand placement and technique let him down at times, and it's something he'll need to work on once he arrives in Athens.
It's a bit unfair to judge any player based solely on a rough four-second clip, but a vine 247Sports' Alex Gleitman perfectly encapsulated both Allen's solid footwork and suspect punch:
"And evaluate my options please do not call me or blow up my twitter I need time to think and I want to be left alone until I have a decision
— Patrick allen (@apatrickallen14) January 3, 2015"
At this stage, Allen doesn't look to have All-American potential at the college level or the ceiling necessary to become a top-10 pick should he go on to the NFL.
With that said, the tools are there for Alen to grow into a dependable starter for two or three years at Georgia, providing some stability on the offensive line.
Any head coach in the country would love to have a player like that.
