Antonio Allen

Experienced player who came on strong as the 2010 season progressed… talented playmaker with a lot of ability… incumbent starter at the Spur position… has appeared in 28 games, making 19 career starts.

2010: Earned a spot on Phil Steele[apos]s fourth-team All-SEC squad… played in 12 contests, starting 11 games at Spur position… despite missing the first two games with hamstring injury, still finished second on the squad with 70 tackles… logged 10.5 tackles for loss, second on the squad, and 2.5 sacks… totaled just four tackles combined through the first four games, then did not have fewer than five tackles in any of the final 10 contests… forced a fumble on his first career sack vs. Alabama… had seven stops in win over Tennessee, including 4.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks… also forced a fumble on a sack that led to a Carolina touchdown… had a career-high eight tackles vs. Arkansas… had seven stops including 2.5 tackles for loss at Florida… intercepted his first career pass and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown in win over Clemson… also had six tackles, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry vs. Tigers… his efforts earned him the Ernest Brooks MVP Award for the defense… led team and matched his career best with eight tackles in the SEC Championship Game vs. Auburn… also credited with four quarterback hurries in the game.

2009: Moved to the Spur position during fall camp… played in 12 games, starting eight… had three tackles and a pass break up in the season opener at NC State… made his first career start against Florida Atlantic, responding with a season-high seven tackles… did not play against Ole Miss due to a slight concussion… started each of the next four games and the final three contests… collected 35 tackles including 22 solo stops… had six tackles including five solo stops in the bowl loss to UConn.

2008: Enrolled at Carolina in January and went through spring drills… played strong safety in the spring and had a look at the ‘Sam’ linebacker spot in the fall… saw limited action, playing in four games – UAB, Ole Miss, Kentucky and Iowa – while focusing on academics… notched five tackles, two against UAB and three vs. the Hawks.

2007: Played at Fork Union Military Academy in Chatham, Va… given a four-star rating and considered the 23rd-best prep school prospect in the country by Rivals.com… played with fellow Gamecocks Akeem Auguste and Eric Baker.

HIGH SCHOOL: Earned first-team all-state honors in Florida as a senior in 2006 after logging 126 tackles and four interceptions… helped Trinity Catholic to a 13-1 season… coached by former Florida quarterback Kerwin Bell… as a junior, he logged 114 tackles and two interceptions, helping his team win the Florida Class 2B title… was a teammate of Gamecock wide receiver Dion LeCorn… a consensus three-star prospect was considered the nation[apos]s 42nd-best safety prospect and the 80th-best player in the state of Florida by Rivals.com… was the 75th-best safety prospect in the nation according to Scout.com and was rated the 91st-best player in the state of Florida by SuperPrep… originally signed with South Carolina in the Class of 2007.

PERSONAL: Antonio Allen is pursuing a degree in African American studies.