Pitt’s Allen gets good returns

By MATT SORTINO

As a high school star at James F. Byrnes High School in South Carolina, Terrell Allen was… As a high school star at James F. Byrnes High School in South Carolina, Terrell Allen was named first team All-State and helped his team to a state title his senior year as a four-year starter.

As a freshman wide receiver at Pitt, he hoped to make an impact at receiver right away, but when he arrived on campus, he found himself behind another young receiver on the depth chart – All-American and Heisman Trophy candidate Larry Fitzgerald. Allen refused to be discouraged and worked even harder to become a familiar name in the Panther’s program.

Instead of fading into the background, Allen found a way to catch the eye of the coaching staff and get on the field anyway he could. Thanks to his blazing speed, Allen became a threat as a kick returner and on the reverse from the receiver position. For the season, he averaged 24 yards a return, including a season-long return of 63 yards against Miami. Allen rushed the ball four times for a total of 36 yards, including a 34-yard scamper, against Texas A’M.

For his efforts during the entire football season, Terrell Allen has been named The Pitt News 2003 Freshman Male Athlete of the Fall.

“I am honored to be selected by The Pitt News as the freshman male athlete of the fall. I’m very grateful for my coaches and teammates. Their guidance, hard work and dedication have helped me tremendously,” Allen said, during a phone interview. “We are all looking forward to getting a victory in our bowl game and continuing our momentum as a program in the future.”

Allen is one of Pitt’s many talented receivers, along with Fitzgerald, Princell Brockenbrough and fellow freshman Greg Lee, and is perfectly content with contributing to the Panthers in any way he can.