Two Spartan Offensive Linemen Named USA TODAY All-Americans

Dec. 8, 2015

EAST LANSING, Mich. â€" A pair of Spartan offensive linemen earned All-America honors on Tuesday from USA TODAY, as junior left tackle Jack Conklin was named to the first team and senior center Jack Allen picked up second-team accolades.

This marks the second year in a row Allen has been selected a USA TODAY All-American (first team in 2014).

Conklin, a first-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and media, is the first Spartan offensive tackle to be named a first-team All-American since Flozell Adams in 1997. Conklin is the ninth different Spartan to earn first-team All-America honors under head coach Mark Dantonio (RB Javon Ringer in 2008; LB Greg Jones in 2009-10; DT Jerel Worthy in 2011; RB Le'Veon Bell in 2012; CB Darqueze Dennard and P Mike Sadler in 2013; C Jack Allen and S Kurtis Drummond in 2014).

A native of Plainwell, Michigan, Conklin was named Spartan Offensive Lineman of the Week a team-best four times (Western Michigan, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio State) during the regular season. Although he missed two games (Purdue, Rutgers) with a leg injury, Conklin still collected 65.5 knockdowns and graded out a winner in eight of his 10 regular-season games.

The junior began his season by being named the Spartan Offensive Lineman of the Week against Western Michigan, and followed that effort with a team-best 9.5 knockdowns in the win over No. 7 Oregon.

After missing two games, Conklin registered a Big Ten Championship level grade for his performance in the win at No. 12 Michigan, which included 7.5 knockdowns, to earn Spartan Offensive Lineman of the Week laurels. He picked up the award for the second week in a row with eight knockdowns vs. Indiana.

Following MSU's 17-14 win at No. 2 Ohio State on Nov. 21, Conklin again was named the Spartan Offensive Lineman of the Week as Michigan State rushed for 203 yards against the nation's third-ranked defense and ended the defending National Champion Buckeyes' 23-game winning streak. In the regular-season finale at Penn State, Conklin compiled 8.5 knockdowns and the Spartans held the Nittany Lions without a sack for the first time all season.

Conklin has seen action in 38 career games, including 37 starts (34 at left tackle, three at right tackle). A three-year starter, Conklin has helped the Spartans to two Big Ten Championships (2013, 2015) and two bowl wins (2014 Rose, 2015) during his time in the starting lineup, in addition to a berth in the College Football Playoff this season. With a healthy offensive line, the Spartans have averaged 188.3 rushing yards per game over the last three contests, including wins over No. 2 Ohio State, Penn State and No. 4 Iowa.

Earlier this week, Allen was named one of three finalists for the Rimington Trophy, which is presented annually to the most outstanding center in college football.

One of the most decorated offensive linemen in school history, Allen earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2015 for the second year in a row. He is only the fifth Spartan on the offensive line to garner first-team All-Big Ten accolades twice (Ellison Kelly, 1957-58; David Behrman, 1961-62; Joe DeLamielleure, 1971-72, Tony Mandarich, 1987-88) and just the second center (Behrman).

A tough, tenacious and versatile lineman, Allen has started 11 games at center for the Spartans in 2015 while helping lead the team to a Big Ten Championship and a berth in the College Football Playoff. He started the first six games at center, but missed the Michigan and Indiana games with a lower leg injury he suffered in the Rutgers game in Week 6; he returned to the starting lineup in Week 9 vs. Nebraska. He also played at left tackle vs. Purdue and Rutgers due to injuries along the offensive line.

He graded out at an All-America level in the win over Penn State on Senior Day in his last appearance at Spartan Stadium, leading the team with 10 knockdowns and also rushing for a 9-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The Hinsdale, Illinois, native led the Spartans with nine knockdowns at Ohio State as the Spartans rushed for 203 yards and ended the second-ranked Buckeyes' 23-game winning streak. He was named the Spartan Offensive Player of the Week against Maryland and Central Michigan.

Allen, a 2014 USA TODAY first-team All-American, has played in 47 career games, including 46 starts (41 at center, five at left guard), and has only allowed three career sacks. The co-captain has registered more than 285 career knockdowns and was a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation 2015 William V. Campbell Trophy (nation's top scholar-athlete).