Rose basketball highlights
Junior football superstar Michael Allen receives multiple D1 offers
MON. | 10-19-20 | SPORTS
Anyone that follows high school sports in North Carolina, and people around the country as well, know the name Michael Allen when they hear it. In just two years of high school, he has made a name for himself as a stand out, three sport athlete at Rose High school. As a freshman he was pulled up to the varsity football team for the state playoffs, and never looked back. Taking the starting role as a sophomore at running back with 906 rushing yards, and 17 touchdowns in his first full varsity season. He also excelled as a Rose track runner receiving honors at the conference, regional, and state level as well in both his freshman and sophomore seasons. During his two baseball seasons, he started in centerfield, batted leadoff for the varsity team both his freshman and sophomore year, and had a .444 batting average, with eight hits in just 18 at bats. He also had five RBI’s, and nine runs scored in a condensed, COVID-19 affected sophomore season.
Allen started playing both football and baseball at the young age of six. It has been a goal of his to play at the next level since the end of eighth grade when he was first invited to attend an ECU Football camp.
At this camp he began receiving attention from coaches at the college level.
“That was the first time it really occurred to me that playing at the collegiate level was something very realistic for me in my future,” Allen said. “It was a cool moment to say the least.”
On July 15th, ESPN released their Class of 2022 preseason recruitment player rankings for high school football. Allen was ranked 125th overall in his class. Though he is highly ranked, the hype doesn’t affect him.
Graphic by Jackson Surles
“I just go out there and play,” Allen said. “The worst thing you can do is let those rankings get to your head; the product you put out on the field should do all the talking.”
Coming into his junior year, he has been listed as a 4-star recruit, and currently has scholarship offers from East Carolina University, University of South Carolina, University of Tennessee, University of Arkansas, Vanderbilt University, Appalachian State University, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, Old Dominion University, University of Wisconsin, Coastal Carolina University, University of North Carolina Charlotte and Duke University to play football. With all these schools offering him scholarships and others showing interest, the recruitment process has been hectic.
“It’s definitely been an adjustment, it has made life a little more busy, and it took me some time to get adjusted to all the attention and talk, and to not get too focused on it and just focus on playing football,” Allen said.
Allen feels that the difficulty of the recruitment process has been reduced by help from his mom, dad and sister.
“They have supported me throughout this process and I know they will continue to do so,” Allen said. “It makes a difference having people in my corner through something like this, knowing they ultimately just want what is best for me, and I know they are going to help me make the best decision possible for me.”
Going into his junior year, Allen has one thing, and one thing only on his mind for football, track, and baseball.
“Win, it’s that simple,” Allen said. “We have really good squads in both football and baseball this year and I expect to have two state championships.”
The Rampants will be relying on Allen’s drive to compete and perform at the highest level this season.
“As a player, you can’t go into a season with any other mindset,” Allen said. “Championships have to be the expectation, if you're winning, the stats and accolades will come on their own,” Allen said.
