• Photo Courtesy: Gerald Herbert, Associated Press

EAST LANSING - Back-to-back first-team All-American center and former captain for the Michigan State Spartans, Jack Allen is finally starting to live out the dream he’s had since the fifth grade: Play in the NFL.

At 23-years-old he may be one of the youngest guys on the team but he has the hard work ethic and determination of a veteran, having to earn every spot he’s held thus far. After going un-drafted in this year’s NFL Draft when he was projected to go in the second or third round, it became clear that this too would be another thing earned.

“Obviously, it wasn’t how I wanted it to go but that’s life, that’s how things happen and I’ve gotta deal with it. I’m just kind of playing the hand I’m dealt, making the best out of my situation and I’m just glad that I have the opportunity to keep playing football,” said Allen.

Allen, a tenacious, strong and versatile lineman has played just about every spot on the offensive line at one point or another. In college, Allen became just the second offensive linemen in school history with 47 career starts, (42 at center, 5 at left guard).

As a two-time Rimington Trophy finalist (nation’s top center), Allen became the first MSU offensive linemen to garner first-team All-America status since 1997, (Flozell Adams and Scott Shaw).

Part of the winning-est senior class in program history, not only was Allen a role model on the field but he was also a leader in the classroom. Being one of the most decorated offensive linemen to play at MSU, his accolades are a testament to his internal driving force to succeed both on the football field and in life.

Named to the 2016 National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society for his academic good standing throughout his entire college career, Allen a four-time Academic Big Ten honoree, graduated in December with a bachelor’s degree in hospitality business, (3.31 GPA). Most recently, he was the recipient of the B1G Conference Medal of Honor and the Chester Brewer Leadership Award.

After training in California for a month, playing in the Senior Bowl, and attending the NFL Combine and MSU Pro day, Allen decided to take his NFL dreams to New Orleans, signing a three-year free-agent contract on Saturday, April 30th with the Saints.

Allen, a blue-collar workhorse, saw it as another opportunity to prove himself and has been doing just that. “With the Saints I thought it was a great opportunity for me, I know Coach Roushar very well, he called me right away and I kind of just had a gut feeling that’s where I was meant to go,” said Allen.

Dan Roushar, the offensive line coach for the Saints, found himself in the same position he was in six years ago. “Coach Roushar recruited me in high school, he was the o-line coach and then when I did commit and come here (MSU) he became the offensive coordinator so I’ve always had a pretty good relationship with him. He’s a great guy and a great coach,” said Allen.

With a familiar face around, the transition from college to the pros has been a nice adjustment for Allen, especially since football no longer involves school. “Now football is your job and that’s how I look at it. Everything I do from six or seven in the morning until five or six at night is dedicated to football whether it’s working out, watching film, taking notes, lifting, running, all that stuff,” said Allen.

On a new path to reach his dream, Allen says he’s prepared to be the guy Saints’ Head Coach Sean Payton needs. “I watch a lot of film, all of the notes I took throughout OTA’s (organized team activities done in the off-season) and mini camp I’ve been going through. I have a sheet that says things to improve on and it’s broken down into run-game, pass-game stuff and that’s how I’ve been going about it.”

With OTA’s being similar to spring ball in college, one factor is vastly different from his days in green and white. “The guys are really, really good, and really big, it’s just been a little different. Here at Michigan State everyone is close in age and you get to the locker room there and there's guys that are 30 plus years old and I feel like a 23-year-old little kid,” said Allen.

Allen attributes hard work to reaching his dream. “My parents have instilled hard work in me and my brothers, and since then my life has been dedicated to sports. Every weekend I was either going to a baseball tournament or wrestling tournament or football game. That’s just how my family is, we’re very sports oriented,” said Allen. With two younger brothers who followed in his footsteps from a state wrestling championship to playing on the offensive line at MSU, his parents have been to every game home and away.

Whether they’re in the starting lineup or on the sidelines, the support has never wavered. “My family has been there every game, even when I was a redshirt freshman I wasn’t playing and I would tell them ‘hey don’t come, don’t waste the time driving or coming up here’ and they came to everything regardless of how good or bad I played and it just helped me out,” said Allen.

With about a month off from the Saints, Allen is still in football mode splitting his time between seeing family and hitting the field. “I’ve just been using this time to get stronger, get in better shape, I’ve been doing a lot of football drills working on my technique, and really they say 'off-time' but it just means no time in the building but I’m doing very similar things,’ said Allen.

With every passing day Allen's dream to play in the NFL is becoming more tangible. “It’s been awesome, a lot of little kids dream about playing professional football and it still hasn’t hit me yet that I’m doing it and it’s just a surreal experience that to be honest when I was in fifth grade I didn’t know if I would ever get there,” said Allen, who is due to return back to New Orleans in less than a week.

The rookies report a week earlier than the veterans to get ready for their team camp in West Virginia. A running test is in store for Allen when he gets back to the black and gold on July 19th. “I’m with the two’s right now at center and I’m just going to have to go through camp and see how I do. I’m excited, it’s going to be an awesome experience to go through an NFL camp and I’m looking forward to it,” said Allen.