LINCOLN — It’s time for Pierre Allen to be a bit selfish, and the senior defensive end knows it.

For two years, Allen has been accurately labeled as a team-first role player, more than willing to follow the rules and support the stars.

Primarily he contained ball carriers, allowing others to swallow them up. Allen’s 2009 statistics — 51 tackles and five sacks — reflected his role as a supporting actor.

But in his final season with Nebraska, Allen has more to give. And he believes that the Huskers, who are now missing two key starters from a defensive line they relied on so heavily last year, need him to take the next step to achieve their goals.

“It’s definitely going to change,” Allen said. “I need it to change. As a team, we need it to change. Five sacks, that’s not enough.”

It was plenty last year, when a lethal four-man rush helped Nebraska rank second nationally in sacks per game (3.14). Most of the push came from the middle, as Ndamukong Suh and Jared Crick combined for 21½ quarterback takedowns. Barry Turner had 5½ sacks.

Allen, meanwhile, was the lookout, making sure quarterbacks and running backs never had an escape route.

He did have two sacks in the third quarter of the Holiday Bowl, when Nebraska was in the process of blowing out Arizona. But at one point last year, Allen went seven weeks without dragging down a quarterback behind the line of scrimmage.

“I didn’t feel like I was letting the team down,” he said. “I didn’t have a bad year at all. I had a solid year. I’m always doing what I’m asked to do.”

He wants to do more now, though.

The 6-foot-5, 265-pounder from Denver is stronger and faster than ever after playing through injuries a year ago.

He spent his junior season ignoring aching knees (strained medial collateral ligaments) and a banged-up foot (turf toe). Crick said his teammate endured more than most could handle.

“I really have to commend Pierre on the things he did for us, despite the pain he was in,” Crick said. “You could tell out there that he was hurting, but he still gave us 100 percent effort. ... You really can’t ask anything more of a guy like that.”

NU coach Bo Pelini says the Husker scheme demands a lot of Allen.

“Some of the things Pierre does don’t always show up on the stat sheet,” Pelini said. “But he’s really come a long way. I think he’s excited about the year.”

Allen’s just hoping that it’s his turn to step into the spotlight.

He was the only NU defensive line starter who didn’t earn an All-Big 12 honor last year. He didn’t make the preseason All-Big 12 team this month, either.

“I just want to get my numbers up,” Allen said, “so my name can be in that conversation, too.”

Contact the writer:

402-473-9585, jon.nyatawa@owh.com

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