Chance Allen, now a senior, considers himself a leader on the team and tries to help bring energy to every practice. | Reagan Earnst/The Cougar
Senior wide receiver Chance Allen is expected to be a pivotal piece of the Cougars’ offensive attack in 2016. Last season, Allen was the second leading receiver on the team by catching 56 passes for 752 yards and six touchdowns.
With the departure of last season’s leading receiver, Demarcus Ayers, Allen will try to fill big shoes as the team’s top target. The Cougar had the chance to catch up with him to get his thoughts on the upcoming season and more.
The Cougar: How is fall camp coming along?
Chance Allen: It’s tough man. We’re making boys to men, we got a lot of young guys who are trying to get with the program, it’s fun though. It’s my senior year, my final round with the guys I came here with and I can’t wait for the season to start.
TC: What is your energy level like now that you are halfway through camp?
CA: Right now it’s pretty low, man. I’m like at the bottom of the tank right now. I’m trying to come out here with high energy every time, I’m trying to be the juice, be that tempo and that leader that the coaches preach about. Be the thermostat not just the temperature, so I’m trying to set the tone out here.
TC: How have you embraced Tom Herman’s team culture since you’ve been at UH?
CA: I embraced it good because we came in at the same time. I was new to the culture like everyone else was. I’m just having fun, now being a senior they want me to spread the culture on to the young guys. I mean it’s hard, but it’s a fun process.
TC: How has practicing in bad weather affected the receivers?
CA: It’s like running in a tsunami or quicksand, really. I mean it’s fun, it’s making our legs stronger and is making us really focus on the ball playing in those conditions. But yeah, we come out here and it’s raining, it’s storming and coach is like ‘we don’t care, we’re going to put the ball down’. No matter what the conditions are we have to be ready for chaos.
TC: What are some goals or expectations you have for the team in 2016?
CA: Trying to win a conference championship is our main goal. If we could do something bigger like win a National Championship it’d be fun, go back to a New Year’s Six bowl. Personally, just being a team leader, I’m trying to bring the young guys along and just have a great season. I get along with Greg (Ward), me and Greg have fun when we are out there. Just go out with a bang.
TC: Do you consider yourself a leader of the receivers or of the team?
CA: Yes sir, just being a senior. Not just the receivers, just everybody. I’m just trying to do as much as I can to bring as much as I can to the table anyway I can. If the defense is lagging I tell them to ‘come on’, tell the cornerbacks to play harder or the linebackers they need to fill the gaps harder. So not just a receiver’s standpoint, that’s just one part of the job. Just trying to get everybody because we are a full unit. I want to get everybody hitting on all cylinders.
TC: What does the loss of Demarcus Ayers do to the receiving corp?
CA: We got a lot of guys rotating in. We got a lot of guys that are going to open some eyes this year, but yeah it’s hard not having my boy D.A. I learned a lot of cuts, a lot of ins and outs from him. He kind of knew the offense before I did, he and Herman were close. I kinda miss him, man. I wish him the best of luck at the next level, but I’m having fun.
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“Q&A: Catching up with a key Cougar receiver” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar