Purdue S Cam Allen plans to return for fifth season in 2023
With several key players announcing they were opting out of Purdue’s January 2 Citrus Bowl game LSU, the Boilermakers received some good news on Tuesday when safety Cam Allen said he planned to return to the program in 2023 for a fifth season.
“Re-evaluating myself this year. … for me, I’m coming back next year for my fifth year,” said Allen after practice on Tuesday. “Self-evaluating, I know I can come back here and clean up a whole bunch of stuff that I missed out on, opportunities and stuff like that. I’m excited going to the bowl game. … “
Allen is one of the team’s most experienced players, having made 30 career starts and notching 10 interceptions since arriving in 2019. The 6-1, 195-pound Allen has started 12 of 13 games in 2022. He is No. 3 on the team in tackles with 43 and has six PBU’s and a team-high three interceptions with a pick-six vs. Indiana State.
“I’m just excited about the opportunities ahead,” he said.
Allen has gotten a chance to visit with new Purdue coach Ryan Walters, who was the defensive coordinator at Illinois the last two seasons.
“We all have been up there talking to Coach and stuff like that,” said Allen. “He’s a cool dude. Right now, we are just getting the relationship part of it down. Maybe a little bit here and there talking about what we are gonna do next year and stuff like that.”
Allen’s main focus has been preparing to play LSU and earn the program a ninth win for a second season in a row. The secondary has seen No. 1 cornerback Cory Trice opt out, thinning depth of the unit. Reese Taylor and Jamari Brown will be the No. 1 corners vs. LSU, with Allen pairing with Sanoussi Kane at safety. While football has been the focus for Allen, it has been nice for him to begin forging a relationship with the new coach.
“Really, with Coach Walters, just getting the relationship and just making sure everybody knows each other, what’s going on in our lives and just how he’s doing and how we’re doing,” said Allen.
