Offensive tackle Dejon Allen is tough, fearless and strong as ammonia.

But inside the 6-foot-3, 295-pound frame is a cocoon of butterflies, ready to flutter with angst whenever Allen sees Latasha Williams’ tear-stained cheeks.

“I hate when my mom cries” Allen said, softly. “I hate that the most.”

Williams raised her son in hardscrabble Compton, providing meals, love and wisdom. She knew the straight and narrow could be matched with school and football. Allen never realized Compton’s harshness, expressing bewilderment when someone asked: “Is it true what they say about Compton?”

“I was used to seeing what I was seeing,” Allen said. “I didn’t know Compton was that bad of an environment until I left. It was because my mom made a great example. She did everything possible to keep me out of trouble and focus on school.”

But there were times when he would slip. And when he did, he said, “she cried. I knew it was wrong, but I didn’t know it would hurt her more than it would hurt me. That drove me when she cried.”

Smoke got in Williams’ eyes when Allen left for Hawaii. He did not have to go to UH. With a blend of strength and agility, and the ability to play on both sides of the trench, Allen had options, California schools where his family could drive to his games. Those schools wanted him, but not as much as UH, which stuck with him when it took an extra year to meet NCAA qualifications.

“I decided to keep my promise to Hawaii,” Allen said.

During summer conditioning in 2013, Allen was poetry in motion maneuvering through drills; the coordinator mistakenly thought he was just going through the motions. Eventually, it was apparent Allen had worked hard to make it look easy.

Allen bounced between offense and defense during 2013, his redshirt year, before establishing residency at right guard. He has allowed one sack in 25 games the past two seasons. After Norm Chow was fired with a month left in the 2015 season, leadership roles were reassigned. Allen was named a co-captain.

This spring, Allen was moved to the blind side. “When you have that kind of an athlete at left tackle,” head coach Nick Rolovich said, “you feel better about it. I think he can be really good.”

Allen also is doing well in the classroom. He said academic counselors gave him studying tips. “Once I understood,” he said of study disciplines, “I got the work done a lot faster. I’m focused.”

He is on track to earn a bachelor’s degree next year. This time, he will welcome Williams’ emotional reaction.

“It’ll be nice to see tears of joy,” he said.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN