It takes a special type of athlete to be able to play any position on the line scrimmage and Skyler Allen standing at 6-foot-3 and weighs 295 pounds is one of the few who can. The lineman has the run blocking skills you’d expect from a guard but also the pass protection skills coaches look for in a tackle. How he became that versatile player is a testament to what he learned at the prep level.
A center now entering his junior season, Allen currently helps anchor an Ohio University offensive line that was one of the best at keeping it’s quarterback safe last year and as a result the Bobcats earned a trip to the New Orleans Bowl.
But before he made it to Athens, Ohio, Allen was at Fork Union. A three-time All-VISAA and All-Prep League honoree, he was taught his craft as a versatile player in the trenches under coach Micky Sullivan where he played all possible positions on the line — tackle, guard and center. His experience and talent made him a desired commodity for a number colleges that included Eastern Michigan, Alcorn State and Gardner Webb. However, the FUMA lineman decided to become a Bobcat and since heading to the Buckeye State he has seen his playing time and production ramp up.
After playing sparingly as a freshman, Allen went from 17 snaps in 2009 to 580 snaps as a sophomore for an 8-5 Ohio team, pancaking 42 defenders along the way in his second season with the team. Now as a junior, Allen is entrenched as a veteran lineman for the Bobcats who won they’re first two games of the year thanks to offensive output of an average of 421.5 yards offense all made possible by Allen and his fellow linemen.
