[1] He played street soccer in Mexico, but did not join an organized team until his family moved to San Diego, California when he was ten.
Three years later, he began playing for the top youth club La Jolla Nomads, coached by Derek Armstrong.
[4] That autumn, Allnutt entered the University of Portland where he played forward on the Clive Charles coached men's soccer team from 1989 to 1992.
In 1992, Allnutt continued to play for the junior national team when he started all three games for the United States at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
While Allnutt played forward for Portland, he slotted back into the midfield or defensive winger with the Olympic and national teams.
In 1993, the Portland Pride of the Continental Indoor Soccer League drafted Allnutt, but he lost the entire year after having surgery in June for torn groin ligaments.
After being released by the Wizards, Allnutt joined the Carolina Dynamo for two seasons, earning team MVP honors both years.
In 2000, the Rhinos continued its winning ways, by running away with the A-League championship, defeating the Minnesota Thunder 3–0 with Allnutt bagging one of the goals.
His outstanding play led to the New England Revolution drafting him, for a second time, in the fourth round (42 overall) of the 2001 MLS SuperDraft.