Aaron Allen has had the type of football career most dreamed about.
The former Ridge Point standout quarterback played collegiately at Louisiana Tech and then Alcorn State before getting an opportunity to play professionally in Italy. He now works out kids in the area around his full-time job to help fill the void and hopefully make a difference in a young athlete.
“I’m just trying to find something that gives you that edge outside of playing and being out there on the field,” Allen said in a recent conversation. “Right now, I’m in the oil and gas industry, but I still train kids on the side. I still want to be around the game.”
His continued love and longing for the game have brought about a unique opportunity. Allen has been offered the opportunity to travel to Shanghai, China, this week to serve as the lead quarterback instructor for a four-day camp with participants aged 7 to 29.
It’s Allen’s first venture over to China.
“I’m very excited to go to China for this opportunity and cultural experience. I’m honored to be part of something that builds bridges by using football in such a powerful way.”
Aaron Allen
“I’m looking at it in a similar way as when I went to Italy. It’s a chance to stay around the game and just shine my light on the youth over there,” said Allen, who played in Ferrara, Italy, for a spell. “I’m definitely looking forward to having a great camp and seeing the growth in kids.
“I will put them through some drills, and hopefully we will see improvement, and that will hopefully lead to another opportunity to go there again.”
Allen got this opportunity to work in Shanghai through his connection here with TGBTG Sports, which has operated in China for more than 25 years and facilitates international opportunities for hundreds of American athletes.
Allen has been training Houston Christian wide receiver Jackson White, whose father, Cyril White, is the managing director for TGBTG Sports. White was impressed enough to invite Allen to join the coaching contingency.
“I’ve known him since high school, and I know he is a first-class professional,” White said. “I am happy to help him expand his international reach by taking him to China.”
Cyril has been part of the pipeline to introduce athletes in China to American football. Next week’s camp from June 29-July 3 will focus on quarterback play and skill development for receivers and defensive backs, along with game-speed training.
“Football is growing rapidly in China, especially with flag football set for the 2028 Olympics,” White said. “We’re proud to help lead that development and provide opportunities for cultural and athletic exchange.”
For Allen, it’s a chance to keep living in his purpose. Currently, he works full-time in the oil and gas industry as a safety technician.
But his real passion remains in football and helping young people improve.
“I relate well with a lot of younger players, just because, I’m going to tell you exactly how it is,” said Allen, who graduated from Ridge Point in 2018. “We’re very relatable in that sense.
“I can really help just because I’m kind of coming out of it and just went through it.”
Allen never really considered coaching, despite others urging him to, until he came back from Italy. He was looking for ways to still be in the game when he was approached about conducting private workouts.
Now this opportunity in China has opened more possibilities.
“My parents always said just go coach, and I always thought if I’m going to put that amount of hours in, I’m going to still want to play,” said Allen, who played at La Tech from 2018-21 before transferring to Alcorn State to play for then head coach Fred McNair. “That’s kind of how I always looked at it.
“I just love being around the game.”
He also takes pleasure in watching young athletes grow under his tutelage.
“It’s been another way to insert myself into the game,” he said. “You see the improvement when you’re coaching and training.
“You can see from one week to the next the progress they make, and it’s even greater from a month to two months to three months later. It’s a really good feeling to be a part of a young person’s growth in the game.”
