Action packed week for Fayetteville's Allen

STAFF PHOTO ANDY SHUPE Austin Allen, Fayetteville High School football player. Aug. 6, 2011.

The last week has been eventful for Hog commitment, Fayetteville quarterback Austin Allen with the meeting with Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema and then learning of the hiring of Jim Chaney as the Razorbacks' offensive coordinator and quarterback coach.

Allen , 6-2, 218, 4.7 seconds in the 40 yard dash, is rated a 4-star recruit by Tom Lemming of CBS Sports Network. He was recruited and offered a scholarship by Chaney when he was at Tennessee.

"I've talked to him and he seems like a great guy," Allen said. "You see his resume, he's been in the NFL, SEC and the Big Ten. The offense at Tennessee put up 40 points a game on everyone. I can't wait to get into his offense and get to know what he's all about and play for him in the future."

On Saturday, Allen and his teammates and fellow Arkansas commitments, linebacker Brooks Ellis and athlete Alex Brignoni met with Bielema in his office.

"He told us everything about the new facilities and what he's going to bring to Arkansas," said Allen, who along with Ellis and Brignoni will officially visit Arkansas during the Jan. 18-20 weekend. "He told us how he raised pigs on a farm when he was younger. It was really cool talking to him and see what he's all about. He's just an overall great guy and he seems like he's going to be a great coach for Arkansas."

Allen, who led the Bulldogs to back-to-back stat titles, completed 233 of 366 passes for -338-3,593 yards, 29 touchdowns while rushing for 10 touchdowns this season.

The conversation flowed easily with Bielema and the talk wasn't just on football, said Allen.

"He got to know us like real people basically," Allen said. "Not just what we thought about the season He just wanted to get to know us like real people. he told us how he was looking for houses and all that. He just made us feel real comfortable."

Bielema won Allen over when he spoke of an ideal offensive balance being 225 yards through the air and on the ground. The hour meeting was enough to convince Allen that Bielema will be a coach players will enjoy.

"He seems like he's perfect players' coach kind of guy," Allen said. "He seems like he can get on to you but he can also praise you when you do things right. He just seems like a great guy and can't wait to play for him."