Just days after telling HuskersIllustrated.com that it might be awhile, Aurora tight end Austin Allen pulled the trigger on a Nebraska commitment on Thursday afternoon.

The commitment from Allen is No. 5 for the Huskers in the 2017 class and it’s the first of what could be three tight ends/jumbo athletes for the Huskers. Allen made the commitment to head coach Mike Riley and director of high school relations Kenny Wilhite before practice.

Allen said he wasn’t even sure that it was going to happen but when he got there he decided to go for it.

“There’s just no place like Nebraska,” he said. “The coaching staff is just unreal. This feels like the right place.”

The tight end said there were a variety of reasons why Nebraska was a good fit, but he loved the proximity to go back and see his family when ever he wanted. He also said he felt like the staff and the recruiting is set to take the Huskers forward.

Riley and Allen embraced when the tight end shared the news.

“It was fun,” he said. “I told him the news and then he had a big old grin on his face. I shook his hand and he said, ‘give me a hug’ and I gave him one. It was just an awesome, awesome feeling, man."

The 6-foot-8, 220-pound tight end has a very busy schedule ahead this spring and summer with track and then club basketball followed by 7-on-7 work as well. Allen said on Monday he wasn’t sure when he’d make a decision, but he knew the Huskers were building something special.

“The recruits Nebraska is getting, they’re going to be doing something special in the next couple years,” he said. “It’s a nice place. The facilities are great. The coaching staff is great. Mike Riley, everyone talks about how good of a guy he is and I’ve seen that first hand.”

Allen’s commitment is somewhat reminiscent to Josh Banderas' commitment in 2012, when he committed just days before the Red-White game. The tight end plans to attend the spring game for at least a half before heading home for his junior prom, but before he leaves he’s hoping to visit with other recruits and sell them on the place.

“It’s going to be unreal on Saturday,” he said. “Yeah, I know Nebraska is taking two, maybe three tight ends, so this weekend I knew if I wanted to come here I might as well lead the charge and help out recruiting."