Allen & Drummond Selected USA TODAY All-Americans
12/11/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State junior offensive lineman Jack Allen has been named first-team All-American by USA TODAY, while fifth-year senior safety Kurtis Drummond has earned second-team honors from the national newspaper. USA TODAY announced its All-America Teams on Thursday, Dec. 11.
Since 2007, MSU head coach Mark Dantonio has helped develop eight first-team All-Americans (seven different players): running back Javon Ringer, 2008; linebacker Greg Jones, 2009-10; defensive tackle Jerel Worthy, 2011; running back Le'Veon Bell, 2012; cornerback Darqueze Dennard, 2013; and punter Mike Sadler, 2013.
Allen, a first-team All-Big Ten selection at center by both the league's head coaches and media, was named one of six finalists for the Rimington Trophy, presented to the nation's outstanding center. He is the first Spartan center to land on the All-Big Ten First Team since Jason Strayhorn in 1998. Allen becomes the first Michigan State offensive lineman to earn first-team All-America honors since 1997: tackle Flozell Adams (Walter Camp Football Foundation) and guard Scott Shaw (Gannett News Service). In addition, he becomes just the fourth center in Spartan history to earn first-team All-America honors, joining Dick Tamburo (1952), Dan Currie (1957) and Dave Behrman (1962).
The Hinsdale, Illinois, native leads the team with 17.5 dominators and ranks second with a career-best 80 knockdowns. Allen started 10 of MSU's 12 games at center (missed the Wyoming and Indiana games with an ankle injury). He also received MSU's Up Front Award as the team's outstanding offensive lineman.
Allen is a key reason why Michigan State has allowed just 10 sacks this season, which ranks second-fewest in the Big Ten and tied for third-fewest in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision. The Spartan offensive line has cleared the way for the Big Ten's second-ranked total offense (496.5 ypg.) and scoring offense (43.1 ppg.). MSU features the No. 1 passing offense in the conference (261.6 ypg.) and the 22nd rushing attack in the FBS (234.9 ypg.) and has already set school records for points (517), offensive touchdowns (64), rushing touchdowns (40) and total offense (5,958 yards). He anchors an offensive line that paves the way for Jeremy Langford, who recorded nine-straight 100-yard rushing games to close out the regular season.
"Jack Allen is extremely tough, strong and athletic," Dantonio said. "Jack has a great understanding of our offensive concepts and plays with sound technique. He's versatile enough to play multiple positions - center as well as the two guard spots. When you have an outstanding center anchoring the line, great things can happen on the offensive side of the football. We're thrilled that he'll be back next year."
"I was stunned to hear that I had been named a first-team All-American by USA TODAY," Allen said. "When I came out of a final exam this afternoon, I had several text messages congratulating me, and at first, I didn't believe the news. Coming out of high school, there were a lot of coaches who doubted my ability to play in the Big Ten. It's nice to see that hard work pays off.
"I admire the relentless attitude and toughness of our offensive line. Heading into this season, some people questioned our line play, but everybody stepped up their game. All of the guys in that position meeting room genuinely care about each other and that's rare to see in college sports, but that's why we're so successful as a unit. They're all great guys and extremely hard workers. We've earned everything we've accomplished this season.
"Offensive linemen don't like recognition," Allen continued. "Our satisfaction comes from seeing highlight clips of Jeremy Langford breaking a long touchdown run or Connor Cook hooking up with Tony Lippett for a big play down field. It's exciting to know that we played a small part in creating opportunities for those big plays."
The 6-foot-2, 299-pound Allen was selected Spartan Offensive Player of the Week after producing 11 knockdowns, including three dominators, in MSU's 34-10 victory in the regular-season finale at Penn State. It marked MSU's largest margin of victory ever at State College, and the 34 points also were the most scored by a Spartan team at Penn State.
He compiled a career-best 12.5 knockdowns in the win over Michigan, including four dominators. In the Big Ten opener vs. No. 19 Nebraska, Allen recorded a team-best nine knockdowns. He was named the Spartan Offensive Lineman of the Week vs. Eastern Michigan after leading the team with nine knockdowns as MSU rushed for 336 yards against the Eagles.
A three-year starter on the offensive line, Allen has played in 35 career games, including 34 starts (29 at center, five at left guard). He has registered 207 career knockdowns.
A two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection, Drummond was selected the 2014 Tatum-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year. He becomes the first two-time All-Big Ten First Team safety at MSU since John Miller (1988-89) and just the fifth in school history (Drummond, Miller, Phil Parker: 1983-84-85, Thomas Hannon: 1975-76, Brad Van Pelt: 1971-72). Drummond shared the MSU Downtown Coaches Club Award as the outstanding senior on defense with defensive end Marcus Rush.
The 6-foot-1, 202-pound Drummond leads the Spartans in tackles (65), interceptions (4) and pass break-ups (career-high 11). He leads the Big Ten in passes defended (career-high 15: 4 interceptions and 11 pass break-ups) and ranks second in pass break-ups and tied for sixth in interceptions. Drummond also ranks among the NCAA FBS leaders in passes defended (19th at 1.3 per game) and interceptions (32nd at 0.3 per game). In addition, he has been credited with three tackles for losses (10 yards).
Drummond anchors a Spartan secondary that ranks among the NCAA FBS leaders in passing efficiency defense (fourth at 102.9 rating), interceptions (11th with 17) and passing yards allowed (25th at 196.0 yards per game).
"Kurtis Drummond is an extremely hard worker, who has been a three-year starter and two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection," MSU head coach Mark Dantonio said. "Kurtis has great ball skills and awareness. He's the quarterback of our secondary.
"With what we expect from our free safety, Kurtis is really isolated a lot and almost plays like another cover corner, especially with the way the game is now stretched horizontally. He's an extremely confident player, who performs his best in the big games."
A native of Masury, Ohio, Drummond closed the regular season by tying his career high with two pass break-ups while also leading the Spartans with six tackles in the 34-10 win at Penn State, MSU's largest margin of victory ever at Beaver Stadium.
On Senior Day against Rutgers, Drummond led the Spartan secondary with 15 production points, as he recorded his fourth interception of the season and compiled six tackles. He had 14 production points in the road win over Maryland with three tackles, a 15-yard interception return and two pass break-ups.
Drummond tallied a career-high 11 stops and broke up a pass against No. 14 Ohio State.
In the 35-11 victory over Michigan, Drummond collected two pass break-ups and six tackles, including a 4-yard loss, to lead the secondary with 21 production points.
In the first two conference games, Drummond opened Big Ten play with nine stops, including a 5-yard loss, and broke up a pass against No. 19 Nebraska, then followed with a team-high seven tackles and a pass break-up at Purdue.
In non-conference play, Drummond had interceptions against Wyoming and Jacksonville State and recovered a fumble vs. Eastern Michigan.
Drummond, who was elected a co-captain at the beginning of the season, has started a team-high 33 consecutive games at free safety. He has 226 tackles in 51 career games and ranks tied for seventh in school history in interceptions (12), 11th in passes defended (33) and 12th in interception return yards (148). Drummond ranks tied for ninth among all active NCAA FBS leaders with 12 career interceptions. His career totals also include 12 tackles for losses (55 yards), three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Drummond has accepted an invitation to play in the 2015 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.
Michigan State (10-2 overall, 7-1 Big Ten), which finished No. 8 in the final College Football Playoff rankings, will face No. 5 Baylor (11-1 overall, 8-1 Big 12) in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, at 12:30 p.m. ET in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. It marks the first-ever appearance for the Spartans in the Cotton Bowl Classic, which dates back to 1937.
