INDIANAPOLIS — Reports of misconduct in MSU’s football and basketball programs have been a talking point for NFL teams as they meet with former Spartan center Brian Allen.
Allen, a captain during his senior season, said at the NFL Combine Thursday “a couple” of the 18 teams he has had informal meetings with have asked him about reports alleging a culture of sexual assault at MSU.
“To my knowledge and everything, Coach D and Coach Izzo — they’re the greatest coaches college football and college basketball have,” he said. “I have all of the respect for those guys and I know what goes on there and stuff like that. I’m not worried about it. The integrity of our program is a pedestal.
“We’ve always conducted ourselves the right way and always have had teammates that are better people than athletes. I’m friends with guys on the basketball team and it’s the same thing there.”
ESPN reported on Feb. 1 that since 2007, 16 MSU football players have allegedly been involved in sexual assault. Allen, who is not part of any of the allegations, said he’s told NFL teams “the Michigan State they write about, I don’t know about that Michigan State.”
“Michigan State is just a bunch of tough, hard-working guys,” said Allen, who arrived at MSU in 2014 and started for three seasons. “I think that’s the biggest thing. Everyone knows Michigan State — we’re not the four-star, five-star school. We’re the humble kids who kinda — it’s our only Big Ten offer for the most part and it’s our one spot to prove people wrong. Those are the guys who’ve I’ve been around.”
Allen is projected by NFL.com to be a sixth or seventh round draft pick. The 6-foot-1, 300-pound Hinsdale, Illinois, native earned second-team All-Big Ten honors last season after starting all 13 games. He also led all MSU offensive linemen with 98 knock downs and snapped the ball 977 times.
Allen, who’s being represented by Shannon Polk of IHC Sports — the same agency who represents Detroit Lions offensive guard Taylor Decker — did 27 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press, which is tied for 10th-best among the offensive lineman class, but is the best among centers.
Head coach Mark Dantonio said Tuesday Allen’s departure leaves the team’s biggest hole to fill. Allen’s former teammates also think it’ll be difficult to replace him.
“I (think) he deserves to be a high draft guy,” MSU quarterback Brian Lewerke said. “I mean, he was the MVP of our offense last year. I feel like he was the one who knew the reads. He got the O-line all situated. I feel like he’s kind of being looked down upon because of his size. But I prefer to see him as a high draft kind of guy.”
According to NFL.com, an NFC area scout called Allen the “‘Bully of the Big Ten' because he is always bringing it to somebody each and every game. He's got that Alpha mentality because he comes from that kind of family. He might get drafted late but he'll make a team."
Brian’s older brother, Jack, is currently an offensive lineman for the New Orleans Saints. His younger brother, Matt, is a sophomore offensive lineman for the Spartans.
“My generation, my older brother’s generation of Michigan State offensive linemen, has kind of put some guys in the books that will be remembered,” Allen said. “Guys that people look up to and people respect. That was one of my goals going there, just leaving a legacy like that and they left a good example for me: what to follow and what to be like.”
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