Tyrie Allen Running Back, 5' 9" and 185lb - Western High School - Plantation, Florida

Tyrie Allen seems to be a very determined young man - one that will not shy away from working hard to achieve a goal of going to college.  After talking to Allen, it's clear that family and education played a big part in him making a commitment to play football at Florida Atlantic.

"I really don't care where I go as long as I get a good education," he said.

Upon his recent visit on campus, Allen made a connection with the FAU coaches and players.  "It's a family oriented team. That's really a plus for me and is really what I want; a home away from home - a family away from my family."

Allen's high school team was loaded with youth and he was one of the few seniors on a team with a new head coach. Coach Rashad West was looking for leaders to step up and help with the transition, and Allen answered his call.

"I was looking for someone to step into that [leadership] role. He naturally fit in and became an offensive leader and team leader," West said.

Allen took it upon himself to become the leader the team needed and helped the younger players grow, always making sure they worked hard.

"This was my last season and I had to make sure everything was OK," Allen said, as if he was a big brother to his younger teammates.

At the beginning of the season, Allen knew he still had plenty of hard work ahead for himself if he wanted to be recruited to play college ball. "I knew I had to work for something and I had to prove something. That's what fueled me the most - the determination to prove to anybody what I could do."

Allen grew into the role of team captain and the "biggest offensive treat down the stretch," said West.

Allen's team was re-building and didn't always match-up with tough competition, but that didn't deter Allen from giving it his all. "He competed hard week in week out," said West.

With his verbal commitment to play at FAU, Allen is looking forward to his next set of challenges.  "[I'm] starting a new chapter now. I'm now at the bottom and have to work my way up to the top," Allen said. "I really like the program and I want to be part of building the program."

West is happy that Allen's determination paid off. "He worked very hard on a goal of playing college ball. He deserves it and he did all he could to put himself in this position and I'm glad he has the opportunity," said West.

And he concluded by saying this - something that FAU fans should be familiar with. "FAU found a diamond in the rough and found someone that will surprise some people once he gets there."