Cortez Allen had one of the busier calendars among the prospects at the NFL Scouting Combine. A total of 25 NFL teams interviewed the cornerback from The Citadel, as much because of the high marks he gets for character as for his talent.
Allen, widely projected as a third- to fifth-round choice, ran a 4.51 40-yard dash at the combine. He said he has been individually timed at 4.37.
Scouts are impressed with the fact Allen consistently has held his own against top-level wide receivers, including former Citadel teammate Andre Roberts (a third-round pick of the Cardinals last year) and a pair of former Florida Gators -- Percy Harvin (now with the Vikings) and Louis Murphy (now with the Raiders).
"Going through those matchups showed that I could run with those guys and play with those guys," Allen told me during a recent radio interview.
Allen showed his ability to handle the rigors of a highly disciplined environment by attending The Citadel, which doesn't obligate its graduates to a military commitment the way other service academies do. The Citadel cadets wear uniforms, are up at the crack of dawn, have regimens for each meal and have fellow-cadet drill sergeants constantly barking orders at them.
"It's not for everyone," Allen said. "But I'm better by going through it."
Follow Vic Carucci on Twitter @viccarucci.
