Louisville transfer RB could be key for Georgia Tech

The first day of spring practice took Anthony Allen’s breath, but he didn’t mind.

After sitting out the 2008 season as a transfer, the Georgia Tech running back was pleased to be in the mix.

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Johnny Crawford /jcrawford@ajc.com

Anthony Allen (43), a transfer from Louisville, could play a key role in the Yellow Jackets’ backfield.

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“I felt good finally being back out there,” Allen said. “It’s a lot different. I got a little more winded.”

Among the many reasons for optimism that the Jackets have in their spring practice is the 6-foot, 225-pound transfer from Louisville. Allen led the Cardinals in rushing in 2007 as a sophomore. Coaches think he could play a key role in Tech’s backfield as a player who could play both A-back and B-back.

“Anthony’s going to be a good player, I think,” Tech coach Paul Johnson said. “He’s got a lot of ability.”

Allen has the size and strength to play B-back, where Jonathan Dwyer played a significant majority of the snaps last season. He has the speed and pass-catching skills to play A-back, where Johnson wants to increase depth. One area where Allen will have to prove himself at A-back is his blocking, an integral component of the position.

“It doesn’t matter,” said Allen, asked his preference. “Wherever I can get the ball. I’ll play center if I have to.”

Allen has the advantage of having attended position meetings with coach Brian Bohannon, who coaches the quarterbacks and B-backs. As a result, while he was practicing with the scout-team offense and running the opposition’s plays, he was learning the Tech offense inside and out.

“I’m definitely behind a little bit, but I’m in every meeting with them,” he said. “I hear everything Coach Bohannon tells them, tells [quarterback] Josh [Nesbitt], tells Jon. I’m pretty good with the reads and everything like that.”

Allen sought to transfer from Louisville after the 2007 season, a year in which he led the Cardinals in rushing and also set a single-game school record with 275 yards against Middle Tennessee State.

“They were looking to change the offense, and they found that a big running back wasn’t what they wanted in the system at the time,” Allen said. “So I felt like it was time to go somewhere else.”

He said he chose Tech, which had recruited him out of Tampa Jesuit, because he felt comfortable there.

Being able to play both running back spots will help his chances. It’s conceivable that he could start at A-back and then switch to B-back when Dwyer needs a rest. Dwyer, too, will be trained at A-back this spring to give Tech more options.

“We’re really just trying to figure out who the best three backs are going to be and get the best three guys on the field at the same time,” A-backs coach Jeff Monken said. Allen is “anxious to learn. He’s anxious to play.”

Jackets hold light practice in rain

The Jackets practiced in shorts and helmets for two and a half hours Wednesday, the last portion in a driving rain. They’ll put on shoulder pads Friday, full pads Saturday. “We’ll come back out here Friday in shells and will be able to do a little more football stuff,” coach Paul Johnson said. “That way you’ll find out how much they’ve actually retained.”

— Staff writer Larry Hartstein contributed to this report.