Mark Dantonio's New Center Jack Allen "Thrilled" to Be Green

EAST LANSING, Michigan — Call him a gentle giant. Call him soft-spoken. But you can now call Jack Allen a Spartan. The 6-foot-2, 275-pound center-nose

EAST LANSING, Michigan — Call him a gentle giant.

Call him soft-spoken.

But you can now call Jack Allen a Spartan.

The 6-foot-2, 275-pound center-nose tackle from Hinsdale Central (Illinois) recently committed to Michigan State, and promises to be a valuable asset to Don Treadwell’s run game in East Lansing.

Allen shrugged offers from Iowa and Wisconsin to don the green and white, due in part to his "comfortable" relationship with head coach Mark Dantonio and offensive line coach Dan Roushar. He showed true class when he personally called the Badgers and Hawkeyes, and explained that he had chosen to go elsewhere.

He said he was elated the recruitment process has concluded.

“I enjoyed some parts of it,” the 14th member of the 2011 class recently told Spartan Nation Radio. “I didn’t enjoy some other parts.”

The recruit’s athletic ability has been compared to that of a guard, rather than a center. His 40-yard dash was clocked at an impressive 4.8 seconds, and the mammoth lineman benches 320 pounds and squats 450. With another year of high school football to play, his skill set and maturity have another season to grow.

And that’s a good thing.

Allen’s ability to get to the second level of the defense will surely clear the way for Michigan State’s deep pool of running backs. The Spartans relied heavily on their lineman in 2008, when Javon Ringer was among the nation’s leading rushers with 1,637 yards. And by all accounts, the Spartans won't abandon the run any time soon, although Kirk Cousins is one of the most prolific signal-callers in the Big Ten, and has a talented group of receivers at his disposal.

If Allen develops into the player Dantonio thinks he will, a Ringer-like campaign could be possible for Larry Caper and company in the future. Allen was also recruited for wrestling, which poses a problem for opposing defenses. Wrestlers’ ability to be quick with their hands and hold their ground translates well to line positions.

“I’m finishing blocks pretty well right now,” said Allen, a three-year starter who was a vital component to Hinsdale’s playoff run in 2009. The Red Devils advanced to the Illinois 8A championship game, but fell to Maine South. “My snaps are OK, they need to improve a little bit.”

Allen spoke of his physical sense, and said he’s fit, but not yet “conditioned to be a Spartan.”

Choosing a school can be taxing for young athletes. Allen, who is projected to play center with the Spartans, went with what felt best, and that was committing to Michigan State.

Allen said that he knew he would get a quality education at Michigan State, and that his intuition directed him to choose Dantonio’s program.