Cal freshman Keenan Allen set an impossibly high standard for himself in his first college game on Saturday, demonstrating during the Bears' 52-3 victory over UC Davis he can do virtually everything except pass. And apparently he can do that too.
(For the game story, click here.)
One play provided a capsule report of his football skills. Early in the second quarter, Allen, a wide receiver, took a handoff on an end-around designed for him to pass the ball. When he saw no one open, he simply reversed his field, weaved his way through the defense, and scored on a dramatic touchdown run that officially covered 18 yards, but actually covered about 50 yards
Those few seconds told us a lot about Allen:
-- Cal coaches will do anything to get him the ball, which means handing him the ball on end-arounds. He ran the ball three times Saturday.
-- Allen can throw the ball. Although he did not get an opportunity to do so, the mere fact that the play called for a pass suggested he's a proficient thrower.
-- He showed good judgment. When he saw the intended receiver covered, Allen did not force the ball, never panicked or hesitated and looked for somewhere to run instead.
-- Allen can make something out of nothing while carrying the ball, showing a willingness to be creative while following blockers effectively and making tacklers miss.
"That play speaks not only to his athleticism but to his intelligence as a player," Cal offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig said.
All of which seems to be instinctive for Allen.
"I just look for green grass," Allen said.
And that play did not show that Allen can catch the ball, something he demonstrated by catching four passes for 120 yards and two other touchdowns on Saturday.
It makes you wonder how good Allen could be on defense. Afterall, he was considered a better defensive back than wide receiver in high school, and most colleges recruited him as a safety.
Cal coach Jeff Tedford said Allen will not play any defense this season, but probably will next year.
"He can do almost anything," Tedford said.
Allen did make one mistake Saturday. He high-fived some fans after his touchdown catch in the third period, and contacting someone in the stands automatically results in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
"I didn't know you couldn't do that until after the play," he said.
Well, live and learn.
The biggest problem Allen created Saturday was trying to identify a former player to which he could be compared. At 6-3, 210 pounds, he's bigger than most former Cal receivers, and he's a niftier runner than nearly anyone his size. Sean Dawkins is close. Dawkins, who also became a starter as a freshman, was a littler stronger, but not as shifty or as quick as Allen.
Allen has an efficient elegance that makes everything he does look effortless and screams stardom. It's safe to say Cal has never had a player quite like Allen.
"He's unreal," Cal linebacker Mike Mohamed said.
"He's just a natural with the ball in his hands," quarterback Kevin Riley said. "Give him a chance to make a play and he will."
It is Tedford's and Ludwig's job to get him the ball as often as possible.
"We want to make sure he's getting his touches, because something exciting is going to happen," Ludwig said.
Allen played a little over half the game, but he chalked up 176 all-purpose yards on his eight touches (he returned a kickoff for 18 yards, too). And every touchdown provides its own little highlight clip.
Things won't be this easy in the games to come. UC Davis is a Division I-AA school, and it does not have the athletes of Pac-10 schools or Colorado, Cal's opponent next week.
However, the mind is awhirl with the possiblities Allen provides. He has not yet shown he can punt or kick field goals, but maybe he just needs the opportunity
See also:
What to look for in Cal opener
What did we learn form USC's win on Thursday?
Latest Cal commit carries reminders of The Play in 1982
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