Beau Allen is coming home to play for Kentucky

Beau Allen is back in Kentucky Blue. After days of speculation, the Lexington native and former Kentucky Wildcat announced he is having a homecoming this offseason.

“I would like to thank Coach Stoops and the entire University of Kentucky football family,” Allen said Monday. “I am extremely excited to announce I will be continuing my academic and athletic career at the University of Kentucky. I can’t wait to get to work.”

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— Beau Allen (@BeauAllen11) December 11, 2023

The former top 500 quarterback has been on the Big Blue Nation’s radar for quite some time. The Wildcats first offered the Lexington Catholic quarterback a scholarship in May of 2017 when Darin Hinshaw served as the UK quarterbacks coach. He committed to Kentucky two years later in April of 2019.

A legacy recruit, he’s the son of former Wildcat quarterback Bill Allen. Similar to his father, he struggled to find significant snaps on the football field. He appeared in five games over two seasons, completing 11-of-19 passes for 132 yards and a rushing touchdown.

Once Liam Coen arrived in Lexington, Allen spent the spring and summer competing with Joey Gatewood for the starting quarterback position. Once Will Levis emerged as the starter, Allen quickly hopped into the portal and landed at the FCS level.

In 2022 Allen posted impressive numbers at Tarleton State. He was named WAC Newcomer of the Year after leading the conference in passing yards (2,838) and touchdowns (23). Allen passed for 300+ yards five different times, highlighted by a career-high 406-yard performance in a 42-40 win at Southern Utah. He completed 56.8% of his passes, threw 11 interceptions and had a QB rating of 142.7.

Allen parlayed his successful stint at Tarleton State into a return to the FBS ranks. Unfortunately, the NCAA was not prepared to give him the green light. He was ruled ineligible this fall at Georgia Southern University. Now a graduate transfer, with the COVID-19 waiver he has two years of eligibility remaining.

Returning to a school you previously left is unusual, but it makes sense in this scenario. Allen can reunite with his hometown team and give the quarterback room something it needs: experience. Brock Vandagriff and Cutter Boley will spend this spring learning Liam Coen’s system. With Deuce Hogan‘s status unclear, Kentucky needs somebody in that room for those two newcomers to lean on. Even though he was only in Lexington for about eight months with Coen, Allen understands the offense better than the new guys. He’ll add some much needed stability as the other prolific prospects learn how to succeed under Kentucky’s distinguished offensive coordinator.

Crazy things happen in the transfer portal. This is another reason to expect the unexpected during roster-building season. Welcome home, Beau Allen.