Longview’s Tre Allen No Longer Committed to Arkansas State, Weighing Options

LONGVIEW -- Tre Allen started the 2012 football season in a Chapel Hill uniform and as a member of Arkansas State's 2013 recruiting class.

Well, the past few months have seen a lot of changes.

Allen moved to Longview during the season, debuting in October. After playing a key role on offense -- he scored 12 touchdowns -- for Chapel Hill's undefeated 2011 Class 3A Division I state championship team, Allen moved to defensive end at Longview, where he was a star, racking up 49 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and 12 sacks in only eight games for the Lobos, who went 9-4 and reached the Class 5A Division II Region II semifinals.

Allen, a 6-foot-1, 235-pounder, committed to Arkansas State in August, but said he decommitted when head coach Gus Malzahn left the program in early December to take the head coaching position at Auburn, where Malzahn helped the Tigers win the 2010 national championship as the offensive coordinator.

Allen was going to play the H-back position frequently used in Malzahn's offense.

Despite his decommitment, Allen is still considering Arkansas State, which he said is honoring the offer, one of three for Allen along with Memphis and Southern Nazarene, an NAIA school in Oklahoma City.

"I'm still gonna go up to Arkansas State and take my official visit," said Allen, who added that he's intrigued by former Texas offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin being the Red Wolves' new head coach. "I'd like to meet him before I make a decision."

Allen said he's hearing from multiple Southland Conference schools, including Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin State, and McNeese State. He's also receiving attention from fellow Division I FCS program Tennessee State and Texas A&M-Commerce, a Division II program.

"I really like their program and how they run things," Allen said of McNeese State. "A&M-Commerce called me and set up a visit. I'm going down there on (Jan.) 18-19."

Allen has proven he can play either side of the ball and said he is comfortable playing anywhere. He admitted that he wouldn't mind playing linebacker after getting a good taste of defense during his senior season.

As far as what he's looking for in a school, Allen emphasized a coaching staff that sells him on coming to a program.

Signing Day is Feb. 6. Verbal commitments are non-binding. Check back with ETSN.fm for more updates on Allen and other East Texas recruits.