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Austin Allen
Tight End
On state football championship game
“I have got (Hu)skies. Skies by 90, but my little cousin plays for them so I will be at the game. I am looking forward to cheering those guys on.”
On playing in Memorial Stadium for state football
“I played in a game out there. At the time, I knew I was going to play here so it was a little different for me knowing that I was going to play on that field more, but it is an experience those guys are never going to forget.”
On senior day plans
“I plan to. I have not decided what my plan is yet in the future. That is a conversation I need to have with more people before I decide, but yeah my plan is to do senior day.”
On NIL’s role in deciding to stay and play
“It is changing the game of football. I am in a unique spot where I can play another year of football where I can get bigger, faster, stronger and make a little money while I am doing it. It puts me in a unique spot, but there are great opportunities at the next level, too. There are pros and cons to both that I need to weigh and that is a decision that still needs to be made on my part.”
On emotions during last home game
“It is going to feel a little weird because I do not know if it is going to be my last, but that is how I tell guys they should play. Play it like it is your last game because you never know when it is going to be. A lot of guys get hurt, season or career-ending injuries. That is kind of my mentality, just play every game like it is your last. In this case it could be my last here for Nebraska.”
On what it will take to get a win against Iowa
“Beating Iowa in anything is a great feeling for Nebraska fans. We need to get that one done for the fans, this university, this program and it would set it on a good step for what this program is going to become. It would put us on a good trajectory leading into this off-season. Showing the guys who we are as a team and who they are becoming in this program and what they are going to become. I look forward to hopefully get the job done for the fans. We owe it to them. It has been a frustrating season of being close but not getting it done. If we get this one done I know a lot of people will be happy.”
On his single-game receiving yardage record by a tight end
“It was a little bit of both in regards to we knew we were going to take shots. Therefore Adrian (Martinez) was going to have to make plays and when he scrambles pretty much anyone is open on the table. It is anybody’s ball at that point. It is also because of the fact that it is what we had in for tight end was pretty appetizing against a defense like Wisconsin’s, but they had a great game plan. We put up some pretty significant numbers on a very good defense. I am happy with the way we played as an offense. We did not get the job done in all three aspects of the game, which was frustrating, but I am happy with the way our offense played.”
On 4th and 2 play where Adrian Martinez scrambled and threw to Austin Allen
“It was making something happen after the play. Adrian (Martinez) had to scramble and look back and I could kind of sense that nobody was around me and then it hit me I was like ‘Oh crap nobody is around me I have to go’ but Adrian (Martinez) made a great play.”
On Adrian Martinez
“He is a warrior. It has come out about how he has been battling through stuff all season. He is a warrior and I cannot say enough good things about him. He is the leader of this team. That is all I can say about it.”
On not getting over the hump and not getting wins
“I have an emotional connection to this university of wanting to get this thing turned around, wanting to get it turned around for the guys for the coaches because if we do not it is the coaches livelihood that is on the line and that was evident two three weeks ago with those four coaches. We have not succeeded as players to getting the details right and really the coaches had to pay for it. It is an emotional time for me to get it right for those guys and for people in this university because we really owe it to them to get it done.”
On the senior class
“The guys have seen it all. We have had our fair shares of ups and downs while we have been a part of this university. It seems like the guys this senior class the toughness is something that would describe these guys. Just because of the way we have handled having a close loss and being able to come back and battle our butts off. It is tough and frustrating at the same time. Those are kind of two words I would describe it.”
On his own improvement throughout four years
“The biggest thing for me was confidence. I know my first couple years I was not confident, but there is a certain aspect of stepping into a Big Ten team as a redshirt freshman getting action on the field. It is something that is a little intimidating. As the years go on and you start to realize that those guys are the same size, same speed that you go at in practice and it kind of builds confidence. Going against really good defensive guys like Caleb Tannor, Ben Stille they are some of the best in this conference Garrett Nelson. Over the years my confidence grew and I think that is the biggest step I took.”
On how the younger players have improved
“It feels like at the start when people come in here they really tread water in terms of learning the playbook. Sometimes you get so focused on that sometimes the technique and toughness part of it of being a Big Ten tight end kind of slips. You have to find a balance, and I think some of those guys it was take a step here and had to take a step back and take another step here. Not take a step back but take another step in a different area and I think that was the biggest thing. With guys like (James) Carnie and (AJ) Rollins learning the playbook really well. Taking steps on the toughness side of things and then some ways for the other guys but they are coming along really well. I am happy with the progress those guys have showed and I am excited to see what they can do here in a year or two. Those guys will be ready. Hopefully with guys like Nate (Boerkircher) and (Chris) Hickman staying and hopefully we have showed them the ropes enough that if we do decide to leave they can take over.”
NU Athletic Communications
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