Tom Allen to Abdul Carter: We’re going to make you unblockable

This week, Penn State football introduced Tom Allen as its next defensive coordinator. It’s been a whirlwind few days for the former Indiana head coach, whose contract was finalized Tuesday, mere hours before the start of National Signing Day. As he begins the process of learning his new team, Allen had the opportunity to meet one of his inherited standout defenders, Abdul Carter, early on Wednesday. And evidently, Allen had a special message for the Nittany Lions‘ star LB.

Tom Allen tells Abdul Carter, “I’m going to make you unblockable”

The Penn State football community was introduced to a Blue and White-clad Tom Allen for the first time on Wednesday. As the former head coach of a Big Ten East rival, there’s plenty of familiarity between the defensive coordinator and his new program. But now, Allen begins meeting his new players one-on-one for the first time.

During his introductory press conference, Allen said he had the chance to meet sophomore LB Abdul Carter on Wednesday. Allen shared that he had a strong message for the star LB.

“I had a chance today to meet him in the weight room,” Allen expressed. “[I] met him today, talked to him for a few minutes, introduced myself to him. [I] commented about how we had a tough time blocking you, man [at Indiana]. So now, I get to find creative ways to help you become unblockable.

“He’s a big athlete that can run and move,” Allen said of Abdul Carter, who has 102 tackles in two seasons at Penn State. “I think his best football is ahead of him. I think he’s got a great opportunity to keep growing and developing, and I’m really looking forward to [having] that one-on-one time together. I think he’s a guy that has been really special but can take his game to a higher level.”

LBU legacy is not lost on new Penn State defensive coordinator

It’s not just Abdul Carter that Tom Allen is excited about. The new defensive coordinator will also take over the role of his predecessors Manny Diaz and Brent Pry as LB coach. Allen, who grew up playing the position, described what it means to now be a part of the “Linebacker U” legacy of Penn State football.

“[I] love that position. I’m so excited to be able to be a part of a place that is known for that,” he said. “I haven’t had that happen before in my career. You just think of all the greats that have come here to play…Just really excited about that position. I love it. I know it. I see it. That’s how I approach things.

“And that’s the group I’m really going to challenge to run our defense,” he continued. “That’s what LBs do. They make tackles, they make plays, and they lead with leadership and production.”

Allen also touched upon the significance of the No. 11 that Abdul Carter and many other Penn State football greats have worn.

“You think about LaVar Arrington and the way he played, and that’s kind of become the standard,” Allen said. “And obviously, Micah Parsons has been a guy that wore that number well recently. I got to see him up close and personal. I was glad to see him move to the next level because he was almost unblockable.

“Anytime you have a number like that, that has so much history and so much legacy and expectation, it’s pretty cool,” he expressed. “It’s pretty special. Especially because, you put that number on, you better play to that standard. Because all those guys that wore it before you, they’re watching.”

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