Jeff Allen

Classroom

Allen has a 3.03 GPA and is on track to graduate in August 2012, which means he will graduate in slightly less than five years after enrolling in January 2008. He was named Academic All-Big Ten in fall 2010.

Character

Allen is a leader for the Fighting Illini, largely because of his work ethic. Weighing nearly 330 pounds when he enrolled at Illinois, Allen dropped 15 pounds by the fall and earned a starting spot by the fourth game of the year. He organizes many team activities and is a guiding force for the squad.

Community

Allen has been involved in many community service events during his time at Illinois, most notably the Cunningham Children’s Home supply drive and appearing in a video promoting the importance of literacy that was viewed by students in the Mahomet (IL) school district on National Reading Day. He has also participated in the Hearts for Haiti fundraiser in Champaign, which helped with relief efforts following the Haiti earthquake, and taken many visits to local elementary schools. In addition, he helped host the visit of the Challenger Baseball League, a local organization that provides an opportunity for developmentally disabled children to play baseball, to an Illini practice in the spring each of the past three years.

Competition

Allen was a second-team All-Big Ten selection in 2010 and a second-team Freshman All-American by The Sporting News in 2008. He is on preseason watch lists for the Rotary Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy, and is a preseason first-team All-Big Ten selection by Phil Steele and Athlon. Illinois led the Big Ten in rushing in 2008 and 2010, and ranked second in 2009, with Allen starting 34 consecutive games during that stretch. Last season, Allen helped Illinois break the school record for total points and points per game, and he also paved the way for Mikel Leshoure’s single-season record 1,697 rushing yards.