Zach Allen brings new dimension to Rutgers QB competition
The Rutgers quarterback competition got a whole lot more interesting yesterday when TCU graduate transfer Zach Allen announced that he would be transferring into Rutgers. Allen left his hometown of Temple, Tex., this morning and will begin working towards earning a starting quarterback job this weekend in Piscataway.
The new Rutgers power-spread offense calls for a mobile quarterback and Allen joins true freshman Tylin Oden as the team’s only dual-threat quarterbacks.
“The [Rutgers] coaches said they are excited for a guy like me, with my skillset, who is able to throw the ball well and has the ability to make plays with my feet and be a mobile quarterback,” Allen said.
Allen’s ability to run the football coupled with his experience playing quarterback in a spread offense makes him a strong candidate to emerge as the opening day starter, especially after a lackluster spring from Rutgers' current top two quarterbacks, Chris Laviano and Hayden Rettig.
Aside from a quarterback’s on-field abilities, leadership and winning the locker room are important criteria for winning the RU starting quarterback job.
Allen got a bit of a start in that area during last weekend’s official visit.
“I hung out with a lot of guys on the team and got to know them the two days I was there. I felt pretty comfortable with them, they are just good guys,” Allen said. “I am looking forward to meeting the rest of the team because I feel like they are all going to be that way.”
At TCU, Allen was also forced to endure a situation that would not be welcomed by most players. He came to TCU as a highly-touted prospect expecting to be the quarterback of the future.
Instead, he watched the emergence of superstar quarterback Tevone Boykin.
“I expected to redshirt my freshman year. I was not as big as I am now,” Allen said. “I felt like it was a good time to learn the offense and put on some weight and go through the training and understand what college football was all about. It is a big difference from high school. I played behind Trevone for two years and as a competitor it is frustrating, but no one in their right mind would have played me in front of Trevone. He had an unbelievable career and he is an unbelievable guy.
“You can’t fault anyone. It was just kind of the luck of the draw for me the way it went down. That is why I decided to get my degree and find a new home and have a place to compete and start a new chapter in my life.”
That new chapter will be written far away from Allen’s home state of Texas, which means he will have to adjust to more than just a new football program.
“I am looking forward to kind of a whole different culture than what I am used to," Allen said. "I never really lived in the north, especially the northeast. I am looking forward to having the guys kind of show me the ropes. They also said I could hunt and fish up there. I really enjoy doing that."
Moving up to the Northeast was actually one of the selling points that brought Allen to Rutgers.
“One of the most interesting parts about Rutgers is where it is located,” he said. “You are so close to everything; New York City, the beach, Philly. I think that is neat for a guy like me, who is from Texas, who has never really seen that area. It is very cool.”
Allen began the long drive to New Jersey earlier today and even before his arrival, he has already received a warm welcome from the Rutgers fan base.
“I got a lot of positive feedback from the fans,” Allen said. “I appreciate them really welcoming me. I am looking forward to getting to know all the fans, the players and the coaches a little better.”