Honors & Awards

• Academic All-Big Ten (2012)
• Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall, 2011; Spring, 2012) 

Sophomore wideout Taariq Allen expects to be a key part of one of the nation’s deepest receiving units in the 2013 season. The 6-3, 195-pound Allen was a part of Nebraska’s regular receiving rotation as a redshirt freshman last fall, before a serious knee injury sidelined him for the season in late October.

Allen is sitting out this spring while continuing his rehabilitation, but is ahead of schedule on his recovery. Allen is part of a group of six returning wideouts with extensive playing experience who helped NU lead the Big Ten in total offense last season.

2012 (Redshirt Freshman)
Allen played in the first eight games of the season at receiver and on special teams. He caught two passes for 11 yards at Northwestern, highlighted by an eight-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. The TD catch pulled Nebraska within five points as NU rallied from a 12-point deficit for a win. Allen suffered a knee injury on kickoff coverage the following week against Michigan and missed the rest of the season.

2011 (Redshirt) 
Allen redshirted in his first year in the program and made a strong impression on the scout team.

Before Nebraska (The Rivers School)
Allen was a standout at the Rivers School in Weston, Mass., where his head coach was Nebraska receivers coach Rich Fisher. Allen was the first Husker signee from Massachusetts since Grant Miller in 2002. Allen was a key factor in 2010 for The Rivers School, which finished 8-1, with its only loss in the Norm Walker Bowl, which determined the independent school state champion.

Allen had 36 catches for 660 yards and eight touchdowns and had 69 carries for 706 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior. Allen also played defensive back and totaled 60 tackles, four interceptions, a sack and a fumble recovery. Allen earned first-team All-New England accolades and first-team all-league honors as a junior after recording more than 600 receiving yards and better than 500 yards on the ground, while combining for 15 touchdowns. He also had two interceptions and two fumbles caused on defense. In addition, Allen was a standout on the basketball court for The Rivers School.

Allen was rated as the fifth-best prospect in the state of Massachusetts by Rivals.com and was among the top 10 recruits in New England according to SuperPrep. Allen only visited Nebraska, but also had offers from Connecticut, Wisconsin and Tulane.

Personal
Taariq is the son of Fred and Christy Allen and was born on July 26, 1992. Allen has been active in the community during his first year in Lincoln. He has volunteered time with hospital visits and Husker Heroes. Allen has not declared a major.


Allen's Career Statistics

Single-Game Highs
» Receptions - 1 vs. Arkansas State, at Northwestern (2012)
» Receiving Yards – 8 at Northwestern (2012)
» Touchdowns– 1 at Northwestern (2012