Texas Tech Football: ‘Last Chance U’ star Dakota Allen gets interception (Video)

After a year at East Mississippi Community College, Dakota Allen is back with Texas Tech football. He snagged his first pick of the year against Houston on the road.

Dakota Allen was originally recruited to Texas Tech as part of the high school recruiting class of 2014. Allen took a redshirt season during his first year in Lubbock. Once he took to the field in 2015 for the Red Raiders, he quickly became a standout linebacker for the Big 12 team. As a redshirt freshman, Allen led the Red Raiders defense with 87 tackles and looked poised for an impactful career.

But after being indicted on a second-degree felony burglary charge, Dakota Allen was dismissed by Texas Tech. That led him to East Mississippi Community College, the junior-college powerhouse at the heart of the Netflix original series Last Chance U. In his one season at EMCC, Allen was among the national leaders at the junior college level as the Lions finished second in the nation.

The year away from Lubbock proved redemptive, and the Red Raiders invited Allen to return to the team for the 2017 season. He has repaid their trust with a solid start to the 2017 campaign, and on Saturday Allen opened his interception account for the season.

On the opening drive of the game, Houston had a first down at its own 37. Kyle Allen took the snap for the Cougars and dropped back in the pocket. He thought he saw an opening to hit senior receiver Ja’Deion High.

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Instead, Dakota Allen read the Cougars quarterback perfectly. Allen jumped the route and returned the pick 10 yards to the Houston 32. The interception set up a Texas Tech field goal. Thanks to the big play early from their prodigal son in their linebacking corps, the Red Raiders lead their Group of Five opponent 13-10 at halftime.