When University of Toledo senior wide receiver Liam Allen hauled in a 3-yard pass in the fourth quarter against Central Michigan, it may have seemed like a small blip on the radar in a dominant Rockets’ win.
For Allen, a walk-on from St. John’s Jesuit who is in his fifth year with Toledo, it was far from insignificant. It may not have been the difference in a win or loss, but it was the first catch of Allen’s career, and it was a direct result of a great deal of hard work, determination, and sacrifice.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Allen said. “I’ve been here for five years, so it’s just fun to be out there. I’ve definitely worked hard to get where I’m at, and the coaches believed in me to put me out there. I’m happy I was able to help my team in a small way.”
For first-year UT receivers coach Mike Bellamy, Allen’s catch was a proud moment for him as a mentor.
“It’s a big moment for me as a coach,” Bellamy said. “Because you know the guys like Jon’Vea [Johnson] or Diontae [Johnson] or Cody [Thompson], you expect them to get their catches. When you have a guy like Liam who is a senior and he gets his first catch, as a coach, if you are in it for the right reasons; those are the reasons we wake up at 5 in the morning. We want those guys to be able to fulfill their dreams.
Allen was a standout athlete at St. John’s and said his original plan was to play baseball in college. However, a shoulder injury during his senior season of football caused him to miss that baseball season.
“Liam’s first catch in 10 years to his kids will be a 70-yard touchdown against Ohio State,” Bellamy joked. “To me, I tell them all the time, these are lifetime memories and he will never forget it. To see the excitement on his face, you thought it was a 70-yard touchdown against Ohio State. That’s why we play and coach this game.”
After a senior football season in which he set the St. John’s record with 66 receptions for 1,199 yards and nine touchdowns, he caught the eye of UT coach Jason Candle, who at the time was the Rockets’ offensive coordinator and receivers coach. Allen was offered a spot on the team as a preferred walk-on.
“I’m from Toledo, and my parents had season tickets when I was growing up,” Allen said. “I came to a lot of Toledo games, so it was just a good opportunity to come play for my hometown school.”
Through his day-to-day approach to the receiver position, Allen has become a good example to his UT teammates.
“When I first met him I didn’t think he was a walk-on,” Bellamy said. “Just because of his work ethic and commitment, and the guys looked up to him in the room. It became one of those situations where you try not to judge someone based on whether they are a walk-on or on scholarship.
“A lot of times the scholarship guys are the guys you have problems making them work, and the walk-ons want to prove a point. Liam from the beginning was one of the smartest guys in the room. He knows every position. He is the hardest worker and he is committed and the guys have followed him.”
With star receiver Thompson out for the season, Allen could see his on-field role increase the rest of this season.
“Even last game I told him that with Cody out and all the adjustments we had to make, he was kind of our crutch,” Bellamy said. “I told him to stand right behind me because I knew I could grab him and throw him in at any position and he would adjust.”
The rewards may not have always been there as far as on-field production for Allen, but that has not changed his hard-nosed mentality.
“I pride myself on being somebody who just shows up and does the little things right,” Allen said. “I just try to go hard and do what is asked of me. So whatever the coaches ask me to do, I will do as hard as I can.”
Contact Brian Buckey at bbuckey@theblade.com, 419-724-6110, or on Twitter @BrianBuckey.
First Published October 19, 2017, 7:00 p.m.
