4-star quarterback prospect Kyle Allen's Ohio State offer last week, just the second to a quarterback from the class of 2014 (though since succeeded by additional offers to dual-threat QB Brandon Harris and pro-style QB Zack Darlington), managed to catch some Ohio State recruiting aficionados off-guard. But how could offering a player, particularly one whom Scout.com ranks the best quarterback in the 2014 class, be heralded as anything other than an obvious move for a power program like Ohio State's?
The conventional thinking is that Allen's speed, or perceived lack thereof, somehow makes him an unnatural successor to Braxton Miller's near once-in-a-generation act in Columbus. Based on recent performances however, such as the relative clinic Allen put on over the weekend in Chicago en route to an invitation to the exclusive Nike's The Opening 2013, can go to show that not having all-world speed doesn't necessarily mean a player lacks the athleticism to strive as a modern quarterback at a place like OSU.
His highlight tape may not be the flashiest thing you've ever seen (unless of course high accuracy passes are your cup of tea), but let's try and give Urban Meyer credit; it's not like every major talent evaluation service in the country didn't also project John Brantley to be one of the best in the country in 2007 – and Allen's mobility in the pocket is far from Brantley's lack thereof.
We'll all have the chance to play armchair scout and see how Allen projects to Ohio State when he performs in 7-on-7's on a national television audience at The Opening in July, but until then, check out an admittedly impressive young man's take on a weekend that saw him draw nearly universal high praise.