Lexington Catholic quarterback Beau Allen turning heads at UK and beyond
Recruiting starts earlier for players now than ever so it's not a surprise that Class of 2020 quarterback Beau Allen is starting to find his name in headlines and on social media a little more frequently.
When you're an in-state quarterback from the Commonwealth and you've got an offer from Kentucky before your sophomore year of high school begins, you're bound to find your way into a pretty big spotlight.
Allen has been well-regarded in recruiting circles and by Commonwealth prep football observers for a very long time. CatsIllustrated.com first scouted Allen in earnest at a 7-on-7 passing tournament in Lexington a full year ago when he was just about to go into his freshman year of high school. There, he rotated in and out for Lexington Catholic with a senior-in-waiting. Perhaps a bit raw, but with fantastic natural skills, Allen showed flashes of potential that seemed to justify a lot of early buzz about his ability.
But Allen was playing at an entirely different level this past weekend in Lexington, when he attended Friday Night Lights as part of a stacked group of quarterbacks that also included Roman Purcell, Connor Bazelak and Cameron Jones, among others, and then showed out in another 7-on-7 tournament at Kentucky the following day.
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His improvements were obvious. First, Allen was noticeably bigger than he was a year ago. Some growth was to be expected. But he went from a player whose height projection was difficult to forecast to an impressive 6-foot-2, 194-pound build that he has today. So for a sophomore in waiting, size doesn't seem to be a concern any longer.
That improved size was on display at Friday Night Lights, as were his other more developed passing skills.
"I think (FNL) went really well," Allen told CatsIllustrated.com early Tuesday evening. "I liked (the camp) a lot. I thought they handled it great. They really respected me being there the day right after the camp and after throwing a lot of balls. I didn't throw as much as I normally would have at a camp because of that, but they handled it really well and I had a great time. I thought I did really well on the balls I did throw. Of course, there were a lot of really good quarterbacks there."
CatsIllustrated.com had a chance to scout Allen periodically, sometimes for extended periods of time, during the 7-on-7 action on Saturday morning, which was spread out across Kroger Field, the new Nutter field, the old Nutter and the indoor practice facility.
In Lexington Catholic's first game, against a Franklin County team they had never faced before, Allen's squad won handily with the offense clicking and the defense playing a stifling brand.
Against Bessemer County Allen was on point, spreading the ball, seeing the field and throwing accurately, playing with enthusiasm and encouraging his receivers.
"They were a really great team," Allen said of that Alabama opponent. "Their offense was really good and their defense was great, too. We had to score every time they scored and our defense was playing their butts off. It was just a matter of whoever got more stops would win the game."
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Lexington Catholic won that game and their march forward in the tournament continued.
They faced Somerset from Kentucky and although Lexington Catholic got off to a slow start they finished strong, winning that contest by nearly 20 points. From there they took on the winner of the Louisville (Ky.) Doss and Bryan Station game. Doss advanced to take on Allen's Lexington Catholic team.
"Doss has some really standout athletes," Allen said this week. "I know Terez Traynor got hurt but even without him they had some really great athletes. They're a really athletic team. I think we beat them around 40-15 or 40-20, something like that. We were also playing really well that game and our defense had a really, really good game."
Then came a repeat against Alabama's Bessemer, and that game was even tougher that their first bout.
"Our defense played really well and kept us in that game," Allen recalled. "It was back and forth the whole game."
With the score 46-46 and the two teams going into overtime, there was a coin flip to determine who would get the ball first. Lexington Catholic won that toss and had four plays to score from the 20-yard line. If they scored, they'd win. If they didn't, Bessemer would advance.
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Lexington Catholic moved the ball to the 10, halfway to the goal line, before Allen connected with a receiver on a curl, who then rumbled into the endzone for the game winner.
Their day ended against Anderson County from Ohio.
"I missed on a couple of balls on deep routes at the start of that game," Allen said, pointing the finger at himself. "They were really consistent and disciplined on all their routes and their defense. We could have had a better effort but they beat us. I think the score was maybe 39-32 at the end."
Allen was at Kentucky hoping to win a tournament, but he also enjoyed the opportunity to be around the Cats' coaching staff for a couple of days.
Darin Hinshaw worked with Allen at last year's summer camp and he was impressed with his improvement in the 12 months since that showing.
"We have talked and probably the biggest improvement from last year to this summer (that Hinshaw likes) is my size and overall my arm strength and speed," Allen said. "I've grown in height but overall my weight and speed have gotten a lot better. My zip on the ball and my accuracy has gotten a lot better. He said he's seen a lot of improvements."
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For Allen's part, he enjoys working with Hinshaw whenever the opportunity arises.
"I really, really love working with him," Allen said. "It's really working for me, how he talks about just letting the ball loose. That's really helped me with everything. He's been awesome. I love working with him and I love talking with him."
Allen said Hinshaw has been impressed, first and foremost, with his accuracy, his knowledge of the game and his work ethic. The two have bonded on a personal level as well during the early part of his recruitment, Allen added.
Hinshaw has been to Lexington Catholic to watch Allen throw. He was there on the Friday just before the Monday when Kentucky extended that rare early offer to an in-state quarterback. Otherwise, it's been area recruiter John Schlarman who has stopped off at Lexington Catholic. Schlarman has been there a couple of times during the evaluation periods when such visits are permitted.
"Coach Schlarman and Coach (Mark) Perry went to school with each other (at Kentucky) and I think they're very close," Allen said.
Kentucky isn't the only school Allen has been to this summer.
He made a west coast swing earlier this summer, back in June, and camped at USC, UCLA and Cal. Before that he had already been to Texas and Texas A&M. Allen also visited Ohio State.
While in California visiting those Pac-12 schools, Allen just camped. He didn't have much time to tour around and get an in-depth look at each place.
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"Then at Texas A&M an assistant coach contacted my head coach and they talked together," Allen said. "I came down there and got to see a little bit. It wasn't an unofficial visit but I talked to the coaches. They knew who I was and I liked that a lot. Same with Ohio State. The quarterback coach, Ryan Day, contacted Coach Perry."
Allen thinks one of his best camp performances of the summer was at Ohio State. He said the competition level at the Columbus event was off the charts and he enjoyed working with some elite-level wide receivers there on the Big Ten campus.
"I think next in line in front of me was Emory Jones, so I saw how developed his is. I think he's actually committed to Ohio State," Allen said. "I actually thought I did really well. I think there were one or two guys there in my grade with me.
"I really like Coach Day and I got to talk to him and the wide receivers coach throughout the day, and I really just liked all they had and all I got to see."
Allen said the west coast trip was good because he got to see a lot of different quarterbacks including some from his own grade with multiple offers.
It's probably too early for Allen to start thinking a lot about favorites or where he's likely to end up, because a lot can change between now and then, but those questions will be inevitable before too long.
Kentucky fans can hold onto the fact that Allen grew up very close to the Kentucky football program, with his father having played for the Wildcats.
"I was always a fan," Allen said. "I've been here all the time. I remember Rich Brooks coaching here. It's been incredible improvement with what Coach (Mark) Stoops, Coach Hinshaw and Coach (Eddie) Gran are doing."
Allen also knows current UK preferred walk-on Will Rodan, who just arrived at the school from Lexington Catholic. And Allen has somewhat of a relationship with Walker Wood, an early enrollee at quarterback from earlier this year.
