“Coming from Texas, you don't see snow every day, so that's a big thing,” Allen said. “When I'm walking from my door to the facility, there’s snow all out on the ground. I think my main thing is just playing with the snow, kicking it as I'm walking outside.”

Allen was one of four freshmen who opted to early enroll at Michigan State after signing the dotted line back in December during the early signing period.

Just days after finishing high school, Allen became a full-time college student and athlete.

"It didn't hit me that weekend when my parents were in town," Allen said. "It probably hit me at the moment, my parents, my mom and them saying goodbye and they were going back. That was probably the moment it all hit me that I'm out here on my own, and I have to be responsible and do what I need to do in order for her to be able to come back and see me or go see them whenever I can.” 

There’s a big adjustment period for all college athletes beginning their collegiate career in addition to becoming an adult and having college workouts. Even though Allen comes from Texas, the center of high school football with the large facilities and a huge dedication to attempting to be the best, those first few days aren’t easy.

“Honestly, the first day was pretty tough,” Allen said. “I really didn't know what to expect just jumping into it right from high school workouts. It was just really fast-paced, and it kind of threw me off guard, but coming from Texas and my school, we work out seven o'clock in the morning we're going full whatever we can, full intensity. It really wasn't a problem to me jumping into workouts like that.”

Michigan State Head Coach Mel Tucker has been notorious for going after larger players in recruiting so far. Allen is no exception at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds.

“Kam’s got really good size,” Tucker said. “He's got good ball skills. He looks like he belongs here, and so when you see him lined up with the rest of those guys in the strength conditioning program, he does not look out of place. So, I'm glad that he's here.”

One of the other early enrollees that are joining Allen is quarterback Hampton Fay, who lived about 45 minutes away from Allen in Texas. After Allen committed, Fay reached out to see if they could meet up and run some routes with each other.

“It was pretty cool to see him for the first time,” Allen said. “I wasn't expecting him to be as tall as he was. I was always the tallest one out of everybody, and I met him and he's like 6-foot-6, so that was a pretty exciting experience.”

Fay and Allen, in that time, began to establish an early connection, something that could pay off in a big way down the road if these two become the players Tucker hopes they will be for his program.

“We were able to get together, get some work in and establish an early connection, which went off to a great start,” Fay said. “With his high school and my high school, our head coaches know each other, so we kind of ran a similar offense and had some plays, and so I'll tell him a couple plays and he's like, ‘Oh yeah we ran them. I know what you're talking about.’ We're both connected in that sense, and we know what we want from each other.”

Allen joins a crowded tight end room that includes Trenton Gillison and Matt Dotson, who Tucker announced would be returning for another season, using the extra year of eligibility that the NCAA granted to players due to the pandemic. Despite all the competition, Allen has a chance to play right away with his athletic ability.

“One thing I can tell that separates him is that he's extremely — it's almost like he can also play receiver at the tight end spot,” Fay said. “He's a big body, and he has that quick twitch that a lot of big bodies usually kind of lack. Catching the ball, he's got the soft hands. He's just an overall athlete.”

Despite only deciding to come to East Lansing and beginning practice early a couple of weeks ago, Allen already has his goals in front of him.

“I'm taking it one step at a time right now,” Allen said. “I'm just focused on getting stronger in the weight room and learning the playbook because that's what comes first. Guys are here that are bigger and stronger than me that know the playbook, so if I don't accomplish those things first, then none of other things happen. So, those are my first steps right now.”