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          On The Trail

          UA jersey tour: Willie Allen

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          Who is Willie Allen? (5:37)

          Recruiting Nation takes a deeper look into the life of ESPN 300 five-star recruit OT Willie Allen and how he became the nation's No. 5 prospect. (5:37)

          • Jeremy Crabtree, RecruitingNationNov 10, 2015, 08:00 PM
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            • Jeremy Crabtree is a senior coordinator
            • Spent 12 years with Rivals.com/Yahoo! Sports
            • Graduated from Kansas State
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          RIVER RIDGE, Louisiana -- Willie Allen is a man of few words, but even he couldn’t hold back his excitement.

          Allen, a five-star offensive tackle from River Ridge (Louisiana) John Curtis High School, has shied away from talking much about his recruitment and has been off social media ever since his senior season started. But even the soft-spoken Allen couldn’t stop gushing about having his Under Armour All-America game jersey presented to him Tuesday at a ceremony in front of the entire student body at John Curtis.

          “I remember when Malachi Dupre got his Under Armour jersey presented to him and how big of a deal that was,” Allen said about his former John Curtis teammate that played in the 2013 game. “That’s when I knew I wanted to be a part of this game. It’s going to be amazing to test myself against the best players in the country every practice. I know it’s going to be hard, and I’m not going to win every rep, but that’s OK. It’s just an incredible honor to be a part of this event.”

          Here’s betting Allen, the nation’s No. 5 overall player, second-best offensive tackle and top-ranked player in Louisiana, will do just fine in the Jan. 2 game at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando. Allen was lauded as one of the school’s best players ever by Patriots’ coach J.T. Curtis, which means a lot, because few schools have a better football tradition in the entire country than John Curtis High School.

          “When I came here, I didn’t know a thing about all the great players that came before me here at Curtis,” Allen said. “But once I got here and learned more about it, it gives you a real sense of pride to be part of something bigger than you are and something special. I can’t wait to represent the entire John Curtis family and community when I’m down there.”

          While Allen is excited about the opportunity to face some of the best defenders in the country, he’s just as fired up about participating in the community charity event along with other All-Americans on New Year’s Day. You see, Allen is very big on giving back to his community in New Orleans, and he believes that’s much more important than what is going on with his recruitment.

          “You only get so many opportunities to help other people out,” Allen said. “That’s one of the biggest things I can’t wait to do when I’m down there. Getting to help people in need will be something I’ll never forget. I can’t wait for that. That and going to Disney World and ride all the rides there.”

          Allen continues to not be in a rush with his recruitment, but he has scheduled his first official visits. Allen said he plans to visit Georgia on Dec. 11, LSU on Jan. 15 and will also take visits to TCU, Auburn and Ole Miss. He had previously listed Alabama as one of his finalists, but he said Tuesday that the Crimson Tide are no longer on his list.