Chase

Allen

That’s saying something, as Iowa State is a talented football team, and linebacker Marcel Spears is generally considered likely to be a draft pick next year. Injuries have plagued Allen throughout his career with the Cyclones as Brugler notes; he was hit by a car as a freshman and he was sidelined with a groin injury as a junior. He also hasn’t been very productive, as he has yet to procure four catches or 25 yards in a game. “But the talent is still there, Brugler writes. “Is this the game that Allen is able to shake the “always injured” label and live up to his potential? Cyclones’ fans are hoping so.”

Allen (6'7/240) hasn’t been at full strength in camp due to minor injury concern, but he looks to be ready to rock/roll come kickoff on Saturday. An aces blocker, Allen has some draft intrigue for next spring. Will try to come out strong as the Cyclones begin their journey into the fall campaign.

Allen (6'7/240) sustained a groin injury against Oklahoma in the second game of the 2018 campaign and while he was later able to return from that issue, he ended up having surgery after the close of the season. The senior’s speciality comes in his blocking -- Bleacher Report’s Matt miller views him as the best blocking tight end in the prospective 2020 draft class. He figures to serve as more of an inline tight end to Charlie Kolar’s move tight end during the coming season.

Miller doesn’t seem to think very highly of his pass-catching skills as he has him ranked No. 8 among all tight ends. Looking at his production, Millers rank of No. 8 may even be generous. Allen has just 12 receptions over the past two seasons and no touchdowns. Even at 6-foot-7, 240 pounds with strong blocking skills, it’s tough to imagine teams getting excited about a prospect who brings next to nothing in the receiving game.

Allen (6'7/240) has been limited since suffering a groin injury against Oklahoma on September 15, a game in which he caught two passes for 23 yards. Charlie Kolar has been the starter at tight end in the junior’s absence, but the position has not figured prominently in the Iowa State passing game regardless of who’s getting reps.

This is the second game that Allen will miss as a result of the groin injury he suffered in Iowa State’s Sept. 15 loss to Oklahoma. With the 6-foot-7, 240-pound junior unavailable, redshirt sophomore Dylan Soehner and redshirt freshman Charlie Kolar are the top available options at tight end. Soehner and Kolar have combined to catch just one pass this season.

Allen (6'7/220) injured his groin in a loss to Oklahoma two weekends ago and subsequently sat out against Akron on Saturday. Cyclones HC Matt Campbell said that his status versus the Horned Frogs should receive a measure of clarity as the practice week wears on.

Allen (6'7/220) sustained a groin injury against Oklahoma over the weekend. While he works mostly as a blocking tight end, the Cyclones have been involving their tight ends in the offense more this season than last. Allen’s caught five passes for 41 passes through three games to date, matching the entire catch total for the tight ends room from the 2017 season. Campbell indicted that the team should have a better idea as to his availability for Saturday in the back half of the practice week.

“I was crossing the street [outside the practice facility] and a car didn’t see me but I had time to react and jump [into the windshield],” Allen said. The windshield shattered after impacting the 6-foot-7, 220-pounder, lodging shards of glass in his back. Thankfully, he did not suffer a head injury or any broken bones during the accident. He actually managed to stand up and walk away from the accident before several Cyclone coaches took him to the hospital for his stitches. “The coaches were there with me in the E.R., and I’ll be cleared when the stitches heal up,” said Allen. He added that "[it] could have been so much worse.”

Allen was infamously hit by a car last July. The accident necessitated 103 stitches. He also came down with a case of meningitis in September. Ultimately, the 6-foot-7, 220-pounder did not appear in a game during the 2016 season as he recovered from his ailments. “I just want to be in a position where I can make a lot of things go right for our offense. I want to get out and finally show people what I can do,” Allen said earlier this offseason. He is in a prime position for targets during the coming season -- Iowa State tight ends logged just seven catches (and no touchdowns) last season. ESPN’s Sherman notes that Allen “has a skill set similar to those of other tight ends [HC Matt] Campbell and [TE coach Alex] Golesh recruited to Toledo, including Michael Roberts.”