Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Jack Allen’s name has been said over the PA at Spartan Stadium many times in the last four years and it is going to be an odd sight in September when he is not trotting out onto the field for the first offensive position of 2016, but Spartan fans get to celebrate the big man one more time as he has just been named the male recipient of the Conference Medal of Honor.
Allen was a 4 year starter on the offensive line for Michigan State out of Hinsdale, Ill. Jack was the definition of toughness on an offensive line that provided protection to Connor Cook. Without Allen’s leadership and skill there is no doubt Cook would not have broken the records that he did while he was at MSU.
Allen leaves Michigan State as the most decorated lineman in the history of the program, Allen was named a USA TODAY First-Team All-American twice (2014, 2015) He also was named a finalist for Rimington Trophy (nation’s top center) for the second consecutive season and helped lead MSU to wins in 3 bowl games (2012, 2013, 2014), two Big Ten Championship games (2013, 2015) and a birth in the College Football Playoff.
On top of all his on the field stats, Allen graduated this past December with a degree in Hospitality Business and a 3.31 GPA. Jack was named to the National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society and was a semifinalist for the 2015 NFF William V. Campbell Trophy (nation’s top scholar-athlete).