4-star S Bryan Allen Jr. announces commitment to Texas

On Sunday afternoon, yet another highly-touted talent joined the Texas Longhorns 2022 class, as Aledo safety Bryan Allen Jr. announced his commitment to Steve Sarkisian’s program.

A former LSU pledge, Allen reopened his recruitment on Jan. 21. Exactly one month later, he released a top seven list that also included Oklahoma, Jacksonville State, Texas A&M, Auburn, USC and Ohio State. At the time, there was reason to believe that Allen, who originally planned to announce his commitment on Monday, would follow suit with a slew of other elite talents who have pledged to Texas this month, thanks in large part to the relationship he’s quickly developed with new safeties coach Blake Gideon.

Of course, that commitment has now come to fruition, as Allen becomes the seventh member of a Texas class that leaps to No. 4 nationally and headlines the Big 12. Furthermore, he becomes the Horns’ seventh pledge this month, to include 2023 running back Rueben Owens.

Allen is ranked as the nation’s No. 88 player overall and as the No. 6 safety, per the 247Sports Composite.

Analysis (by Daniel Seahorn)

Allen is not a guy that is going to blow you away on the hoof with physical measurables, but he still has solid size at roughly 6’0, 180 pounds. Allen has a lean, athletic build that will allow him to continue to fill out over time once he hits a college nutrition plan. It should not be a problem for him to get up to around 200 pounds in time. Allen checks a lot of evaluation boxes for me. He is a multi-year starter for perennial powerhouse Aledo and has produced at a high level during his time as a starter. In 2019, he accumulated 122 total tackles, forced 3 fumbles, recovered 2 fumbles, and recorded 3 interceptions on his way to being named his district’s Defensive Newcomer of the Year. As an encore in 2020 he was named Class 5A’s Defensive Player of the Year on the way to helping Aledo secure yet another state championship. He is a decorated player both on and off the field and he still has one more year to add to his resume before hitting a college campus.

On tape Allen is a player that looks comfortable playing center field on the back end of the defense. Allen shows the ability to punish mistakes and overthrows and displays good speed and range to make plays at all three levels. Allen shows he can get downhill in a hurry in run pursuit and has the ability to erase plays coming from the safety spot. He also shows he can be a sure tackler and will wrap up ball carriers and get them to the ground. Allen has good ball production and shows considerable ability to force turnovers. Allen pitches in on special teams both as a returner, as well as running down to cover kickoffs. While I do not see Allen’s return ability translating to the collegiate level, I can see his willingness to run down and cover kicks as a plus. If I had to nitpick about his tape, I would like to see more of him in man coverage and he has some clips where he arrives and contacts receivers early before the ball gets there. Again, that is me nitpicking.

Overall, Allen is a really nice player who projects as a starter down the road who has special teams value that could help him get on the field early in his career. Add in the fact that LSU and other regional powers wanted him badly then you got yourself a nice recruiting win all things considered.