Defensive ends reign supreme in the Southeastern Conference, but only few are mentioned in conversations. Marquee names including Myles Garrett (Texas A&M), Robert Nkemdiche (Ole Miss), Carl Lawson (Auburn), Derek Barnett (Tennessee) and Curt Maggitt (Tennessee) are media favorites, but a name that needs to be discussed more is Alabama’s Jonathan Allen.
Allen, 6-foot-3, 283 pounds, is a premiere pass rusher in the SEC. The junior and native of Leesburg, Va., has logged 53 career tackles, 17 tackles for loss and eight sacks. He was named first-team All-SEC last season, after totaling 33 stops, 11.5 for loss and 5.5 sacks.
Allen earned defensive player of the week honors from Alabama’s coaching staff for his performance against Wisconsin. He recorded four tackles with two for loss, a pass breakup and two sacks. Badgers’ running back Corey Clement couldn’t get on the edge or run inside of Alabama’s front line. Allen and company held him to 16 rushing yards on eight carries.
Alabama’s defensive linemen A’Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed are both high on ESPN’s NFL draft expert Mel Kiper, Jr’s big board. Allen is on the list as one of the top defensive end prospects. He excels at creating leverage against offensive linemen in his pursuit of quarterbacks. A strong season could place him with a first to second-round draft stock.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine and SB Nation. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @ESPN_Future.
