Kenny Allen (American football)
_(cropped).jpg) Allen in 2015 | |
| No. 91 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Punter / Placekicker |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | July 8, 1994 Fenton, Michigan |
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Weight: | 222 lb (101 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Fenton (MI) |
| College: | Michigan |
| Undrafted: | 2017 |
| Career history | |
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Stats at CFL.ca | |
Kenneth Arthur Allen (born July 8, 1994) is an American football punter who is currently a free agent. He was the starting placekicker and punter for the 2015 and 2016 Michigan Wolverines football teams.
Early years
Allen was born in 1994.[1] His father is from Korea where he played college soccer.[2] He attended Fenton High School in Fenton, Michigan. As a high school kicker, he was ranked as the No. 2 punter and No. 13 placekicker in the country by Rivals.com.[3]
University of Michigan
Despite receiving scholarship offers from multiple schools, Allen chose to enroll at the University of Michigan in 2012 as a preferred walk-on. He was given a scholarship in 2015.[2][4]
During the 2015 season, Allen became Michigan's starting placekicker while Blake O'Neill handled punting duties. In the opening game against Utah, Allen kicked a field goal for the first points of the Jim Harbaugh era. His kickoff against Utah was also the first field goal made by an African-American kicker in Big Ten history.[5] Allen converted eight of ten field goal attempts and 25 of 25 points after touchdown (PAT) attempts. He also secured touchbacks on 22 of 46 kickoffs.[1][6][7]
During the 2016 season, Allen was Michigan's starter as a punter and a placekicker, handling kickoffs and field goals.[7][8][9] On September 10, 2016, he scored a career-high 14 points in a game on three field goals and five PATs.[10] Allen was named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week for the week ending October 31, 2016. Allen made field goals from 23, 23 and 45-yards on October 29, setting a new season-long, and also hit all three PAT tries to total 12 of Michigan's 32 points in its nine-point win over Michigan State for the Paul Bunyan Trophy. Allen also kicked off six times with three touchbacks and a 64.2-yard average and punted three times for 122 yards, landing one inside the 20-yard line.[11] During the 2016 season, Allen was second in the league with a 42.6-yard average, punting 46 times for 1,961 yards with 20 punts inside the opposition's 20-yard line and 14 punts of 50 yards or better. He has converted his last 12 field goal attempts, the third-longest streak in school history, and has converted 16-of-20 field goals this season.[12] Following the 2016 season, Allen was named to the All-Big Ten special teams second-team, by both the coaches and media.[13]
Professional career
Allen signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent on May 5, 2017.[14] He was waived on September 1, 2017, during final roster cutdowns.[15]
Allen signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on October 9, 2017.[16]
References
- ^ a b "Kenny Allen Bio". Mgoblue.com. University of Michigan. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
- ^ a b Mark Snyder (September 16, 2015). "U-M kicker turned down scholarships, then earned one". Detroit Free Press.
- ^ Greg Tunnicliff (September 23, 2011). "A Michigan Man: Fenton's Kenny Allen commits to play football at Michigan". The Flint Journal.
- ^ Brendan F. Quinn (September 15, 2015). "Now Michigan kicker Kenny Allen has a scholarship and a chance". Mlive.com.
- ^ Jojo Girard (September 4, 2016). "First Three Points In The Harbaugh Era Carry Unexpected Historical Significance". WFGR.
- ^ Mark Snyder (January 7, 2016). "Looks like Allen back for another season as U-M kicker". Detroit Free Press.
- ^ a b Jacob Gase (August 31, 2016). "Michigan "more than comfortable" with Allen kicking all three phases". The Michigan Daily.
- ^ Angelique S. Chengelis (September 10, 2016). "Michigan's Allen is rare kicker as triple threat". The Detroit News.
- ^ Mark Snyder (September 8, 2016). "No punts, no problem for Michigan football's Kenny Allen". Detroit Free Press.
- ^ "Postgame Notes: #5 Michigan 51, Central Florida 14". Mgoblue.com. University of Michigan. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
- ^ "Awards & Honors: Allen, Peppers Earn National Accolades". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. October 31, 2016. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
- ^ "Peppers, Lewis Lead All 11 Defenders Honored by B1G". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. November 29, 2016. Archived from the original on June 22, 2017. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ "2016 Big Ten Individual Award Winners" (PDF). www.grfx.cstv.com. Big Ten Conference. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
- ^ "Ravens Officially Sign 16 Undrafted Rookie Free Agents". BaltimoreRavens.com. May 5, 2017. Archived from the original on January 15, 2018.
- ^ Mink, Ryan (September 1, 2017). "Ravens Announce 24 Roster Moves, Have 13 More To Make". BaltimoreRavens.com. Archived from the original on January 18, 2018.
- ^ "Tiger-Cats sign free-agent kicker Kenny Allen – Sportsnet.ca".