10:58 a.m., Wednesday: NU recruit Taariq Allen logged on to Omaha.com for a chat with World-Herald staff writer Rich Kaipust and Husker fans from around the country. Here's the chat transcript, or you can view a replay of the chat here. The segment with Allen started at 8:28 a.m.:
Taariq Allen: Im here!!!
Allen: hey thanks for having me
Rich Kaipust: Morning, Taariq. Thanks for joining us. Did you do anything special for signing, or just have some family with you this morning?
Allen: well the snow is pretty bad but its just my family and my coach up here
Kaipust: Boston Sports Fan is on-line with us. Asks if playing major D-1 college football was your dream growing up.
Allen: o hell yeah ive been dreaming about it ever since i stepped on the field for pop warner
Kaipust: Taariq's high school coach, Rich Fisher, is a former Colorado linebacker. How'd it go over becoming a Husker when your coach is a former Buff?
Allen: haha its all good he's just happy for me
Kaipust: Matt asks, “Why Nebraska? What made you commit to NU and seem so excited about coming here to play ball?”
Allen: well i wanted to play to the best of my abilities and going to nebraska is going to do that for me
Kaipust: Barry from Big O and John ask if you think the preliminary plan is to redshirt or do you think you can come in and make a more immediate impact?
Allen: well the coaches havent said anything about redshirt year but im going to work hard to get on the field my first year
Kaipust: From Chris: “Taariq -- do you model your receiving game after anyone? Any WR you follow?”
Allen: i take notes from every receiver you can learn a lot from different people
Kaipust: Husker in Ohio wants to know “style of play” you have and what you consider to be your best skills?
Allen: i have good hands and can get yards after the catch
Kaipust: Back to the redshirt question, Lewis asks what you might need to work on to see the field right away.
Allen: all i can do is work hard and let the chips fall where they may
Kaipust: If you guys didn't know the story, Coach Fisher asked Taariq last spring if he wanted to come to a Nebraska summer camp (Fisher knows Bo Pelini from years ago). What made you want to come to camp here?
Allen: well coach asked me if i wanted to go play some football this summer and i said yeah why not and it ended up being a good turn out
Kaipust: Drew asks what you knew about Husker tradition before NU started recruiting you. Also, did you have a Husker hat or shirt to throw on this morning?
Allen: yes i did
Kaipust: Two more from Barry: I know Daniel Davie and you are friends ... who is faster? Which coach/coaches are you closest to on the NU staff?
Allen: i dont know who is faster we are both very competitive
Kaipust: Sammy's question is: “Did the Huskers' move to the Big Ten impact your decision to sign with Nebraska?”
Allen: no it didnt impact my decision
Kaipust: Interesting thought from Chris: “Do you see Massachusetts being a pipeline for Husker recruits in the future?
Allen: we have a couple of young juniors that are great players hopefully they follow me out there
Kaipust: Taariq, Coach Fisher has told me that your father is a Boston policeman and, if I recall correctly, a member of the bomb squad. Can you talk a little about the discipline installed in you that should serve you well in the NU system?
Allen: hopefully i wont have to defuse any bombs haha
Kaipust: From Brian: “What is your favorite route to run? Post, hitch, etc.?
Allen: post
Kaipust: Eric asks “How do you feel you fit in the type of offense Nebraska runs?”
Allen: yeah because my coach runs a west coast offense at my school
Kaipust: Lots of congratulatory posts and comments from readers, Taariq. A combination of questions is, “What did you think about Lincoln when you've been here?”
Allen: it was cold when i went on my official but it was hot in the summer but i like the small town feel and how everyone goes to the games
Kaipust: Nathan wants to know what has prepared you most for a jump to Div. I football
Allen: hitting the weight room was key for me and going to camps really helped
Kaipust: Barry from Big O asks if you've become close to any of the other guys in your class or other guys on campus. Also, know who you're going to room with yet?
Allen: i know a couple of kids coming in Jamal turner, aaron green, daniel davie, ryne reeves
Kaipust: Josh wants to know if you're a Patriots fan, and what you think of Nebraska's own Danny Woodhead?
Allen: yes im a pats fan and i think woodhead is the man
Kaipust: Sammy asks what's your best high school football memory?
Allen: i got hurt in the second quarter but my team pulled through and won the championship for me
Kaipust: Dave asks if you'd rather spring a block that leads to a rushing TD or catch a TD pass.
Allen: selfishly i would love to catch the td but i would throw the block for a td as well anythin to win
Kaipust: Eric wants to know what college team or teams you followed growing up.
Allen: i didnt really follow a team growing up but i became an ohio state fan when i was in 8th grade
Kaipust: Shane asks what you plan to major in and how much academics played a role in picking NU.
Allen: i plan on taking up sports management
Kaipust: One last one from Chad and we should probably let Taariq go: Asks what was the deciding part in coming to UNL?
Allen: good coaches good players and good academics
Kaipust: Actually, let's squeeze one more in here: Doug wants to know how your basketball season is going and if there's been any big dunks lately.
Allen: im no longer on the court and now im a gym rat getting bigger stronger faster
Kaipust: Hey, Taariq, appreciate you taking the time to chat with us. All kinds of congratulatory messages in our comments section and people welcoming you to the Husker program. We'll let you sign off and we'll be seeing you soon in Lincoln.
Allen: thank you for your time
Allen: thanks guys for your questions
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