Allen named to top sophomores list by MaxPreps Web site
Posted on Sunday, July 6, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/Sports/66814/
Football recruiting has become big business for local and national outlets looking to give audiences a first look at the next big thing.
One national recruiting Web site has already tabbed Fayetteville High sophomore quarterback Brandon Allen as that next hot-ticket item.
CBS Sports’ MaxPreps named Allen as one of its Top 100 incoming sophomores in an article entitled “ Super Sophs Primed For Breakout Seasons, ” which appeared on www. maxpreps. com on July 2.
Fayetteville coach Daryl Patton isn’t shy about lauding his sophomore phenom signal caller, who is the son of long-time Arkansas assistant coach Bobby Allen.
“ We’re awfully glad he’s at Fayetteville High School, that’s for sure, ” Patton said. “ We think he’s got a very bright future ahead of him. He’s got good size, good height, strong arm. He’s extremely intelligent and has the entire package. ”
MaxPreps staff writer Stephen Spiewak even uses Allen in his lead of the article before breaking down the remainder of Top 100 Class of 2011 football prospects. MaxPreps is one of the nation’s largest recruiting publications.
“ We spoke with several writers, high school and college coaches and scouts to narrow our list, ” Spiewak said. “ All of our research indicated that everyone was very high on Brandon Allen. Several people felt like he could’ve started last year for the 7 A state champs as a freshman. He also has the football pedigree with his dad. It was a pretty long but fun process and Brandon was pretty high on our list. ”
Patton said Allen showed accuracy and poise in the pocket at a 7-on-7 tournament in Little Rock recently. Allen completed an astounding 80 percent of his passes with 36 touchdown tosses versus just 1 interception.
Patton, though, cautioned against crowning Allen as the state’s best signal caller just yet or comparing him to Mitch Mustain, the former Springdale High QB who earned Parade Magazine’s National Player of the Year award in 2006. Even Mustain wasn’t the starter heading into his sophomore season.
“ Brandon’s a sophomore, ” Patton said. “ We can’t expect him to come out and be the No. 1 player in America. As talented as he is, there will be some growing pains and some mistakes and we expect that. But we’re very excited about his future at Fayetteville. ”
While Brandon Allen admitted he did feel some pressure to perform this season, he said it had nothing to do with the hype that appears to be building around his debut.
“ There is pressure following up Blake McDonald after a state championship season, ” Allen said. “ It’s an honor to be mentioned among some of the nation’s best players but it doesn’t add that much more pressure. All of the other stuff, I try not to pay attention to it. I just want to play football and prove myself on the field. My No. 1 goal is to win a state championship and I leave all of that other stuff alone. ”
Allen was one of three sophomores in the state to make the Top 100. Shiloh Christian boasts two of those players.
West Fork transfer QB Kiehl Frazier (6-2, 195 ) led the Tigers to a 9-1 record in junior high.
“ Kiehl Frazier is a dual threat quarterback with Division I-A size, ” Spiewak wrote. “... He appears to have all the tools to succeed on the varsity level and beyond... Frazier is blessed with above average arm strength; his throws have been clocked above 50 mph and he can throw 60 yards. ”
Shiloh sophomore defensive tackle Samuel Harvill (6-1, 250 ) also made Max-Preps ’ Top 100 cut. According to Spiewak, Harvill bench pressed 155 pounds 56 times and can max out at 500 pounds for one rep.