Drew Allen addresses transfer possibility
Published: 12/30/2012 5:35 PM
Last Modified: 12/30/2012 5:35 PM
ARLINGTON, Texas – Drew Allen might finally be ready to move, and who can blame him?
Allen just concluded his fourth year as an Oklahoma quarterback. He has thrown a total of 30 passes, completing 18 for 160 yards. Landry Jones does this in some quarters.
Allen redshirted in 2009. He backed up Jones in 2010 and '11 but never got a chance to do more than mop up in blowouts. Blake Bell got in games in '11, scored 13 touchdowns and was made MVP of the Insight Bowl.
Then Bell beat out Allen to back up Jones this season and, well, you could feel it coming – the feeling that Allen needed to go somewhere to play before it was too late.
He was asked about that possibility at Cotton Bowl media day Sunday.
"I haven't decided anything yet," Allen said. "I know I'm graduating in May. I'm really excited about that, and I'm just focusing on the Cotton Bowl right now. Getting ready for A&M like any other game."
That part about graduating is important. The NCAA allows graduates to transfer without having to sit out a year, provided they enroll in a graduate program at their new school which is not offered at their old one.
So Allen could gut out one last spring at OU, get his degree and move on in time to play at a new (think smaller) school next fall. If he transfers before the spring semester, he loses that option.
"I've got a week to kind of…" he started saying, before finishing with "right now I'm a Sooner. I'm only worried about that."
The only thing Allen says for certain is he's grateful.
"Sooner Nation, or however you want to call it, has been very supportive and just kind of behind me thought everything that's been going on," he said. "The way I like to handle myself is with a positive attitude and be good for the team. These guys are my buddies. I've been with some of these guys for four years. They count on me to still be a leader no matter where I am on the depth chart. That's always how I've viewed it. Whether I'm first, second or third or whatever, I like to always have a vocal role."
The fact Allen has stuck it for so long against such long odds is admirable. He'll no doubt have the blessing of coaches, teammates and fans should he decide to leave/when he decides to leave.
"My goals and aspirations since I came to college have been to play," he said Sunday.
With Bell favored to replace Jones, and youngsters Trevor Knight and Kendal Thompson also in the fold, it seems Allen will need an address change for that to happen.
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
