By Luke Krausse
After a standout senior season, Thomas Dale football standout Phillip Allen Jr. committed to play at Old Dominion University.
According to his Twitter account, @PhillipAllenJr1, this was the cornerback’s third collegiate offer, following Brevard (N.C.) College and UVA-Wise.
“Phillip is long and athletic,” said Thomas Dale football coach Kevin Tucker. “He worked so hard to get his body into shape for the 2019 season. He lifted and did seven of seven to refine his craft; Phillip will not be outworked by anyone.”
The 6-2, 175-pound senior added 35 total tackles last season, with nine pass deflections and two touchdowns. Allen blossomed during his senior season with the work ethic that Tucker talked about, and he continued to train into the offseason with Roger Riggle at DefyGenetics prior to his offer from the Monarchs.
Allen will follow the path of another local to ODU, Matoaca standout Elijah Rivers. The 6-5, 295-pound defensive tackle graduated in 2016. Rivers helped bring the Warriors to a 7-4 record his senior year and earned first team all-conference honors.
Old Dominion will look to Allen and others to contribute on the heels of a forgettable 1-11 season.
