By Cannon Fritz | Reporter
When senior safety Michael Allen walks into Baylor’s locker room, he does not need to say much. His teammates already know what he represents.
They have watched him lead in ways that do not require a spotlight, but in ways that begin long before he ever steps onto the field. Fifth-year cornerback Reggie Bush II felt that from the start.
“Everyone looks up to Mike,” Bush II said. “He came in with me at the same time … and I look up to him.”
That kind of admiration is not always seen for a player who does not fill up the stat sheet. Allen is not the one grabbing multiple interceptions a season or headlining highlight reels. His influence comes from somewhere deeper — a place he has spent four years cultivating.
Allen arrived at Baylor as a walk-on, unsure if he even had the physical tools to play safety at the Power Four level.
“I probably didn’t have the God-given ability to play safety at this level,” Allen said. “But I could have just sulked in that … instead, I asked, ‘Where else can I help us win?’”
That mindset became the foundation of his leadership. He learned early that it was not about talking; it was about doing.
“You can say whatever you want, but at the end of the day, you can’t really fool anybody in this locker room,” Allen said. “Your actions speak way louder than your words.”
Dominic DePizzol, Baylor alum and friend of Allen, saw that same humility from the very beginning. DePizzol led Allen’s first bible study at Baylor when Allen came in as a freshman.
“You know, when I first met him his freshman year, I think the thing that really stuck out to me a lot about him was that to be a great leader, you have to be a great follower,” DePizzol said. “He was always one of the most receptive guys in Bible study … always asking great questions.”
Bush II has also seen that firsthand.
“The amount of work he puts in, the amount of leadership he has … it’s something special,” Bush II said. “It just makes everyone want to be as great as they can for him.”
Allen leads by example in team runs, in lifts, in accountability and in relationships. The real root of his leadership comes from his faith, something he refuses to separate from his identity.
“Football is what I do. It’s not who I am,” Allen said. “I want to be known for how I impacted the people … how I treated them.”
That perspective came long before he put on a Baylor uniform. Baylor gave him a platform, and eventually, a calling.
After finding inspiration from his first Bible study at Baylor, Allen realized players were having meaningful conversations about faith, but the team had no organized space for it. So he built one.
Allen launched a player-led Bible study that is held weekly over dinner with support from Baylor’s sports ministry.
“There’s something about having a meal together,” Allen said. “We started it about two and a half years ago, and it’s probably been one of the most rewarding things of my time here.”
Rewarding is an understatement.
“We’ve had almost 25 to 30 guys get baptized over the last two and a half years,” Allen said.
He baptized many of them himself.
Some players arrive at Baylor with strong faith backgrounds, but many do not. Allen sees both as opportunities.
“There are guys who grew up going to church every Sunday … and guys who have never really heard the gospel,” Allen said. “One of the best things is when guys invite other guys to go. It’s so powerful.”
Bush II says that influence is felt everywhere, not just in Bible study.
“Everyone has something they look up to him for — whether that is his lifting, his faith or just him as a leader,” Bush II said.
Allen’s leadership is built on consistency, humility and a willingness to serve. These traits that have made him one of the most respected figures in the program.
“Being consistent, being the same person every single day,” he said. “I always want to help more, impact more.”
DePizzol says that consistency is rooted in Allen’s spiritual foundation.
“You know, his faith really stands out,” DePizzol said. “He seems to be an excellent follower of Jesus … I think he’d attribute a lot of his leadership capabilities and growth to his relationship with Christ.”
Allen plans to coach after his playing career ends, a dream he has had since high school.
“I actually walked on here with the hopes of learning under coach Aranda,” Allen said. “If I told my high school self I’d be sitting in defensive staff meetings … I wouldn’t have believed you.”
He grew up watching his uncle Dennis Allen, who is now the defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears, serve as the head coach of the Oakland Raiders and New Orleans Saints
He has already interned with the Seattle Seahawks. He is already functioning as a player-coach within Baylor’s defense. He already understands the influence a coach can have on a life.
“That’s something I feel called to pursue,” Allen said. “Because I know how much impact a coach can have.”
Allen will not leave Baylor as an All-American or an NFL prospect. He will leave as something far more rare: a leader whose legacy is measured not in tackles, but in people. That investment has turned back to him through his teammates’ effort.
“Everyone wants to be as great as they can for him,” Bush II said.
Michael Allen did not just lead Baylor football, he changed it one relationship, one Bible study and one act of faith at a time.
