Michigan State Football: Matt Allen primed for breakout season

Injuries held Matt Allen back slightly in 2018 but coming from an impressive family, he’s primed for a breakout season with Michigan State football.

Being the youngest brother of Brian and Jack Allen can’t be easy. He’s watched as his older siblings have gone through the ranks, earned starting jobs on Michigan State’s offensive line and were named to All-Big Ten and even All-American teams. The pressure of following in their footsteps has to be immense.

No one will ever know that pressure other than Matt Allen.

The fourth-year junior may not have the accolades that his brothers did in East Lansing, but he has plenty of experience and he’s played in 21 career games — he even got to pick Brian’s brain for a couple of years.

Now he’s entering the 2019 season as Michigan State’s projected starting center and he’s even been named to Phil Steele’s preseason All-Big Ten third team. The potential is there, but if he’s not healthy, Allen will never truly reach it.

But he’s had an entire offseason to get healthy after missing some time in 2018 and has even maintained his 300-pound frame. The entire offensive line returns and everyone has bulked up, which could make his job even easier in the middle. He has worked hard to earn that starting center spot and he’s been the most consistent there when he is healthy so it’s no surprise to see him earn preseason honors, even being named to the Rimington Award watch list.

The Big Ten may know the Allens by now, but Matt could be the latest to take the conference by storm in 2019 with a breakout season.