12/29/2016 football Edit

Allen updates commitment status

Dylan Moses (left) and Chris Allen (right)

Andrew Bone • TideIllustrated

Senior Recruting Analyst

Bone has covered Alabama football recruiting since 2003. His book, The Road to Bama, can be purchased via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million.

Chris Allen, four-star linebacker from Southern Lab High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has received a lot of attention since his commitment to the University of Alabama.

"It's been crazy," Allen said since his commitment. "It's been a lot of publicity. A lot of people on Twitter loving me and some not so much. I am still happy I committed. It's been good.

"You know some people are saying I betrayed the state of Louisiana. A lot of people don't like that I am going to Alabama, but I don't really care. It's my decision. I did what I think is best for me and my family. I feel great about my decision."

The chatter of a possible flip from Alabama to LSU have started to trickle back to Tuscaloosa. Allen is comfortable with his decision, but a possible visit in January to the home-state school always puts fans and coaches on edge.

"I've been talking to Coach Tosh (Lupoi) a little bit," he said. "He is asking if I am still ready to be a linebacker there and stuff like that. There was a rumor going around that I was going to flip to LSU. He asked me about that.

"I'm really not sure yet if I am going to visit LSU. I'm just not sure. There is still a lot of pressure on me to stay in-state. My commitment to Alabama is 100-percent. I don't see myself decommitting so I would definitely say my commitment is 100-percent."

Alabama has a pair of Baton Rouge natives committed in the 2017 class in Allen and Dylan Moses. The two played together when they were young, and the opportunity to do it again in Tuscaloosa.

"I am definitely looking forward to playing on the same field as him again," Allen said. "We are both going to Bama. I am excited about it. We were on the same little league team. It was fun then. It's going to be just like it was in little league again, but on a much bigger scale."

Allen gave his assessment of Alabama's semi-final game on Saturday against Washington.

"Without being too disrespectful, I think Bama will prove why they are the No.1 team in the country," he said. "I think they will have a pretty good game against them and come out with a win."

Allen suffered a pulled groin muscle at practice on Thursday. He will try to practice again on Friday, but may sit out the rest of the week. He mentioned four-star safety Todd Harris as a recruiting target for him this week for Alabama.