Former four-star 2024 DB Cornell Allen covers entering the transfer portal
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
After a successful high school career at Richmond’s Trinity Episcopal, ESPN four-star defensive back Cornell Allen (5-10, 185) signed with the Charlotte 49ers. Ten games into the 2024 college football season, 49ers head coach Biff Poggi was released as head coach giving way to interim head coach Tim Brewster. Entering an unknown phase in Charlotte, the former Class of 2024 talent has opted to test the transfer portal as of Monday afternoon.
Charlotte got their prized recruit on the field as a true freshman seeing Allen appear in games against James Madison, North Carolina, Gardner-Webb, and Indiana.
The redshirt freshman spoke about his role in the 49rs defensive scheme.
“I played nickelback and free safety,” Allen stated. “We ran a 3-3-5. We ran a lot of pattern match, man, and zone.”
Asked about his strengths on the field as a defensive back, Allen replied, “My knowledge of the game, and I am very fast. I know the game. I have played against a lot of top players from around the country.”
Allen continued sharing how his knowledge of the game and skills grew with the 49ers, “It grew a lot. We had a lot of football-school meetings; that helped me learn a lot about football. I learned a lot about general football, down and distance, personnel, and stuff that helps me play faster on the field.”
The semester in college has helped Allen improve in more ways than one.
“The most important things that I have learned are my time management, getting to class, meetings, workouts, and practice. And the concept of getting better every day. Having a goal in mind, and something you want to get better at. Everyone is getting better every day all around the country.”
Asked what he will bring to a new college football program, Allen replied, “A hard-working player with ambition, a player with a lot of football knowledge, and a player that will help build a culture and a winning program.”
The idea of that next landing spot was shared, “A place that loves me, where I can develop and become the best version of myself on and off the field, with coaches with knowledge and wisdom. I want to trust them and learn from them every day.”
In Allen’s short time in the portal, teams are reaching out left and right.
“I have talked to Stanford, I have talked to NC State, I have an offer from Akron, I have talked to James Madison, North Texas, and Louisiana Tech already,” Allen said.
Allen had 40-plus offers as part of the 2024 recruiting class.