Allen chooses to return to Texas Tech

Texas Tech picked up their second junior college linebacker commit for the 2017 class on Saturday morning, a familiar face that will be returning to Lubbock: Dakota Allen.

Allen, who spent this fall at East Mississippi Community College and was arguably one of the best LBs in all of JUCO, was removed from the Texas Tech football team last spring due to violation of team rules.

But now, he's on his way back to Lubbock after clearing through a number of hurdles. He'll officially be a Red Raider again in time for the first semester of summer school, which he's eager to jump back into.

"I'd have to say mid-October I got a message from Coach Gibbs on Twitter, and automatically they had to go through a lot of steps and appeals, just a whole process to see if I could even possibly get back on the team, and it just so happened that I can, and I can return back on campus in the summer time."

As for this season at East Mississippi, the linebacker felt it was one of his personal bests, both on the field with football and off the field gaining some perspective.

"I feel like this fall went very well. It was a very humbling experience. Definitely had one of the best seasons I've ever had personally with 117 tackles. But I felt like it was definitely humbling."

Now, Allen is simply ready to get back to work as a member of the Texas Tech football team again. They can certainly use his help defensively, specifically at linebacker where the Red Raiders are short on experience and elite talent such as his.

"Definitely excited, and its a mutual feeling. I just want to come back and finish what I started with those guys.