Texas QB talks about Ole Miss offer
Ole Miss wasted no time in offering in-state quarterback prospect Clayton Moore once the staff received word that 2008 signee Chris Wilkes had opted for major league baseball, signing Sunday with the San Diego Padres.
However, the staff apparently had already decided to offer another quarterback prospect before Wilkes signed when San Antonio (Alamo Heights HS) prospect Drew Allen was offered on Saturday.
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"I got word from (quarterbacks coach) Kent Austin to call coach (Houston) Nutt on Saturday," Allen said on Monday. "I called coach Nutt and he extended the offer."
Allen, a 6-foot-5, 198 pound pro-style quarterback who is ranked No. 12 at his position by Rivals.com, visited the Rebels in March and has remained interested in Ole Miss.
"I've really been high on Ole Miss ever since I visited," Allen said. "Before, they had yet to offer, but now they have and that puts them up there."
Despite his interest, Allen isn't anxious to make a verbal commitment.
"I'm going to take it a little longer," he said. "I'm trying to get back there for another visit. I was there earlier, but I just saw a few things like the facilities and academic support center. Next time, I want to get a better feel for the rest of the campus and to hang with some of the players."
Allen previously told RebelSports.net that he would visit for the second time on Saturday, but those plans have changed.
'I'm trying to re-set the visit," he said. I was going on the 21st but now that's changed, it's just not working out. I was going up the following week, but coach Austin is going to be away, so I don't think that will work either. It looks like it's going to be sometime in July."
With the Ole Miss offer, Allen is now up to nine offers that includes Colorado, Duke, Purdue, Wake Forest, Vanderbilt, Kansas State, New Mexico State, and UTEP in addition to Ole Miss.
One additional school that has entered the picture with Allen is SMU, where he camped last weekend.
"I thought my camp went really well with SMU," he said. "I thought I did really well and completed most of my balls. I like coach (June) Jones a lot. With his background, I think they're going to be a good team. He seems really trustworthy. It was really cool to get to work out in front of him."
For now, Allen feels like he's about a month away from making a decision, but the Rebels are clearly in the running based on Allen's first favorable visit and the relationship he's developed with two former quarterbacks – Austin and Nutt.
"I like what they have to offer," Allen said. "Coach Nutt is a proven winner – and my Dad said it best when he said coach Nutt is really a genuine guy. Then, there's coach Austin who I really like with his passing background and his background as a quarterback."
Allen completed 174 of 332 passes for 2,589 yards and 27 touchdowns last season with 14 interceptions. In addition, he had 254 yards and four touchdowns rushing on 53 carries.
Allen's recruitment has picked up since he won the "Golden Arm" award at the Fort Worth Elite 11 Camp in Fort Worth earlier this spring. At the time, he only had an offer from New Mexico State and has seen that grow to nine since the camp.
Allen has a 3.85 GPA and has a 26 on the ACT.