Journal-News.com

HAMILTON — Denicos Allen is the kind of football player who gives opposing ball carriers nightmares, but only if they're able to sleep at all the night before taking on the Hamilton High School linebacker.

With tremendous speed and instincts, Allen's craving for contact rarely goes unsatisfied.

He registered 147 tackles during his junior season, 11 of them for loss. Allen also forced three fumbles and recovered one to lead the Big Blue defense and earn the 2007 JournalNews Butler County Defensive Player of the Year award.

"I just love hitting people," Allen said. "It's a great way to take whatever anger you've got inside and just let it out on the field. It just makes you feel great."

While running backs and receivers tried to avoid crossing paths with Allen, blockers specifically sought him out.

"There were a couple of games that I noticed on every play I had three or four guys coming at me," Allen said. "That made me feel good because I knew how much they wanted to block me. And I knew that some of the other players on our team were getting left alone and that they were gonna get their chance to shine and make a big play."

Well, sometimes at least. As opposing coaches often found out, assigning multiple blockers to Allen wasn't necessarily going to take him out of the play.

"He just has a burning desire to get to the ball," HHS coach Jim Place said. "He's one of those guys who practices hard every play and plays hard every play. Not only does he not have bad practices, he doesn't even have bad plays."

Not only has Allen caught the attention of area high school coaches, but the big-time Division I college programs are starting to make contact.

"They're coming from all over, places like Florida and Ohio State," Allen said. "I'm still trying to stay focused on high school, but sometimes during my free time it's hard not to think about college. All these letters and offers really make you feel good."

It probably makes the other ball carriers in the area feel good, too, knowing Allen won't be prowling the field much longer.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2193 or jmorrison@coxohio.com.