As true freshmen, the 2017 signing class played a major role in helping the University of Alabama football program capture a College Football Playoff National Championship.
Regardless of names such as Tua Tagovailoa, Devonta Smith, Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III, Alex Leatherwood and Dylan Moses grabbing headlines, the strength and speed was there for Christopher Allen at outside linebacker.
A native of Baton Rouge, La., he played in seven games that year and flashed signs of being the next marquee pass rusher for the program.
After having a great spring in 2018, Allen suffered a serious knee injury in the summer — forcing him to miss the entire campaign. The former four-star was granted a redshirt, but people were expecting him to have a breakout year.
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Despite recording good numbers in 2019, the same quickness and power Allen had as a freshman was not consistently on display.
He totaled 11 tackles — including 4.5 for loss with two quarterback hurries — yet Sal Sunseri (outside linebackers’ coach) wanted to see better lateral movements and aggressiveness from him.
The 6-foot-4, 250-pounder feels back to his peak powers as a freshman, and has been a leader throughout the offseason via respectable sources.
He has been pushed by two exciting freshmen, William Anderson and Drew Sanders, but Allen has stood his ground.
With fall camp starting on Monday, the redshirt junior eyes one of the two starting roles at outside linebacker.
Fall camp start tomorrow ? wish me good luck ??? @AlabamaFTBL
— ⚜️Christopher Allen⚜️ (@Allen_Greatness) August 16, 2020
Allen now wants to be a catalyst behind a national title team this time around.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
