Defensive end Allen commits to Tigers

• By SCOTT HOTARD
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Jul 20, 2009

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Sixteen commitments into the 2010 recruiting class, LSU football picked up two more pledges in one night on the Bayou.

Archbishop Shaw lineman Elliott Porter, who impressed coaches at an LSU camp last month, committed Saturday evening. West Monroe star Jordan Allen, one of the state’s top prospects, wasn’t far behind.

Allen’s commitment came during “Bayou Night,” a Saturday recruitment party in Tiger Stadium featuring dinner and video games.

“It was just looking out at the stadium — all those bright lights,” the defensive end said. “I just knew that’s what I wanted to do.”

Allen spent the weekend in Baton Rouge, where he stayed with former West Monroe teammates Barkevious Mingo — who signed with the Tigers this winter — and Tyler Glenn, a preferred walk-on.

Indeed, he felt at home. Rebels usually do.

Going back to Gerry DiNardo’s second LSU recruiting class, West Monroe has had 12 prospects sign with the Tigers. Six of those prospects were linebackers and five were linemen.

Two more ex-Rebels, linebacker Jason LeDoux and defensive end Brian West, played for LSU after signing with Texas A&M.

“Everybody around Louisiana knows about West Monroe,” Allen said. “They know we send the best of the best to LSU. That’s the way it’s always been.”

By picking the Tigers, Allen strengthens the pipeline.

A Class 5A all-state selection, Allen — who measures 6-foot-6, 240 pounds — registered 70 tackles, with nine sacks, as a junior. He helped the Rebels reach the state title game for the first time since 2005.

Allen is listed as the nation’s No. 8 strongside defensive end by Rivals.com, which ranks him 61st among all recruits. He is listed as the nation’s No. 15 defensive by Scout.com.

TigerSportsDigest.com ranks him the state’s second-best prospect, behind Thibodaux wide receiver Trovon Reed.