Buckeyes Have Second Straight Honoree in Allen – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/8/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 8, 2003
COLUMBUS, Ohio: Ohio State strong safety Will Allen has been named as this week’s Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week.
Allen, a senior from Dayton, Ohio, returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown in Saturday’s 16-13 win over visiting San Diego State. The Aztecs were threatening to expand on an early 7-3 lead when Allen turned the game around by grabbing a deflected pass and racing the length of the field for the go-ahead score.
In addition to his interception return, the longest in Ohio Stadium history and just the third 100-yard return in Ohio State annals, Allen also forced a fumble which was recovered by OSU and was credited with six tackles.
Allen shares the award this week with Northwestern safety Marvin Wood.
Allen is the second Buckeye defender to be honored this year. Junior defensive end Simon Fraser was named Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week following Ohio State’s opening-night win over Washington on Aug. 30.
Previous long interception returns:
Marlon Kerner — 100 yards at Purdue, 1993
David Brown — 100 yards at Purdue, 1986
Nick Buonamici and Ray Griffin — 95 yards at Indiana*
Howard “Hopalong” Cassady — 88 yards vs. Wisconsin, 1954
Ahmed Plummer — 83 yards vs. Illinois, 1997
*Did not score
