Interview: 3-Star 2022 California Talent Kendall Allen is a Do It All Skill Player
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
The sophomore season turned in by Kendall Allen a year ago may not have surprised those associated with Vacaville Christian High School, but it certainly made college programs across the country take notice. Allen slipped into the do-all skill player role for the Falcons helping lead his squad to the playoffs for the first time in a decade, and now has scouts nationwide watching his progress.
The coming out party for Allen in 2019 was only a matter of time. The 6-0.5, 167-pound, athlete had earned All-League honors as a freshman and then backed that up with an impressive 51-reception, 994-yard, 12-touchdown season with one rushing score added. Playing a mix between corner and safety, Allen brought down 40 ball carriers, 32 by himself, with two tackles for a loss, nine passes defended, three picks, a forced fumble, and recovered pigskin. The long list of stats was rounded out on special teams with 16 kicks taken back for 492 yards, including a long of 85-yards, and one punt returned for 20.
Allen is now a two-time All-League, All-Region, and All-City performer with an All-State nomination in 2019. All those accolades and more are to come during the 2020 season based on Allen’s offseason grind. To talk about it all, the three-star California prospect stopped by the RNG Lab.
Interview
Kendall, you were dynamic across the board in all three phases of the game during the 2019 season. Looking back, what are some of the accomplishments you are most proud of?
Proud of myself helping lead our team to playoffs for the first time in 10 years. I don’t care about stats, I just want to win. I want to bring pride back to our town; we are a small town.
When you are on offense, you play the inside receiver as it is supposed to but you stretch it like a wide out. Beyond your speed, what are some of the strengths to your game as a receiver?
My lateral quickness, agility, running a fade or going down the line – I am getting open. My quickness helps me a lot along with my footwork. I am working on my footwork a lot. This year will be way different from last year.
You just touched on this, let’s drill deeper. What were some of the routes you were running last season?
I ran a lot of slants, lot of touchdowns of slants last year, fades, digs, returns, and stick routes. I ran every route to get open.
On defense you picked off three passes and logged 40 stops. Where all did you line up in the Falcons secondary and what coverages were you guys executing?
We played Cover 2 last season; I played what we called a Robber. Last season I was at corner and safety. I feel like I played better at safety, I was a hawk. At corner, they were not throwing to my side. I was more in the action of the game at safety last season.
The no fear attitude you take going across the middle on offense comes through with how you attack kick returns. One thing I noticed you do well with the ball in your hands is give a little basketball shoulder shake minimizing movement while keeping momentum. How are you putting all of that together as a return specialist with such great results?
To be honest, last offseason I was working on how to get my defender off-guard. I play basketball too; that crossover with the shake is like a slant in football. Doing that helped me get my defender off-guard. I can change speeds easily, stutter step, and burst into speed.
What have you worked on with the small details of your game on offense this offseason?
Better route running, I feel that I could have done better last year with that and not rounding my routes. I have worked a lot on my footwork and toe tap on comebacks.
Same question, but for defense?
This offseason I have been working on my breaks on a slant and a post, any type of route that breaks in front of me. Tackling is another thing I have been working on this offseason. Last season I was not great at tackling, my shoulder was bad. My shoulder is 100 percent now, I am ready to hit.
Once the 2020 season gets going, what roles are you taking on with the Falcons?
I think I am playing more in the slot this year than last year to get that mismatch with a linebacker or safety. On defense I will play more of that athlete role at free safety, corner, and strong safety. I will be everywhere on the field this season.
Speed is a big part of what makes you explosive on the field, what is your best-timed run?
My best 40 time is a 4.52.
Nice. Where did you post that time?
In July, I did it at our own combine. We had a testing day doing all the drills and we maxed out that day. That gave us a chance to see our times and update them.
With all that you do on the field, do you have a favorite position?
To be honest, I really don’t. I just want to be on the field at all times, I never want to come off the field.
Let’s close talking about recruiting. Which schools are showing interest this offseason?
Hawaii, Cal, UC-Davis, Southern Utah, Northern Arizona, Cal-Poly, and some D-II schools like Western New Mexico, Eastern New Mexico, and Valparaiso.
Once the opportunity arises again for recruits to visit campuses, are there any visits you’d like to take?
Yes. I was supposed to visit Notre Dame this summer, they have been showing interest. I would also like to visit University of San Diego and San Jose State.
Kendall, it was a lot of fun going over all the things you do on the field and how you are preparing for your junior season this summer. Keep up the hard work.
Thank you.
Photo credit: Allen family; Kendall Allen (2019)