Jason Allen

Teams looking for a versatile pass defender with long arms, great leaping ability, ball-hawking playmaking skills and great size are keeping close tabs on the steady progress Allen is making in recovering from a dislocated hip suffered during the 2005 season. Allen was sorely missed on the football field by the team, not only for his steady production but also for his leadership. Without Allen in the lineup, the Volunteers experienced their first losing season of the Phillip Fulmer era (1992-present) and their first sub-.500 year since the 1988 campaign. Allen was an All-American selection by Super Prep, Prep Star and Borderwars.com as a senior at Muscle Shoals High School. He was twice named to the Class 5A All-State team as a running back and chosen Alabama Gatorade Player of the Year. He was rated the best player in Alabama by Birmingham News and Mobile Register and selected the Class 5A Back of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association. As senior, he rushed for 1,740 yards and 21 touchdowns, adding 378 yards and three scores receiving. Allen graduated from high school and enrolled at Tennessee in time for the 2002 Winter Quarter. He saw minimal action while adjusting to the defensive backfield as a true freshman. He finished the 2002 campaign with only five tackles (3 solos). Allen started the team's final eight contests at right cornerback in 2003. He posted 57 tackles (43 solos) with a stop for a loss and a forced fumble. He deflected eleven passes, intercepted two others and blocked a kick. Allen was named to the Associated Press All-American third-team in 2004. He opened the season at right cornerback before shifting to free safety for the rest of the year. Allen led the team with a career-high 123 tackles (88 solos), including two sacks and three stops behind the line of scrimmage. He recovered one fumble and caused three others. He had two interceptions and batted away five passes. Allen shifted back to right cornerback for his final season. He collected 35 tackles (28 solos) with a sack and three stops for losses while causing a fumble and deflecting two passes. A hip dislocation just before halftime of the Georgia contest would see Allen's season come to an abrupt end. In 43 games at Tennessee, Allen started twelve times at free safety and fourteen times at right cornerback. He registered 220 tackles (162 solos) with three sacks for minus-25 yards and seven stops for losses of 35 yards. He caused five fumbles, recovered another and blocked a kick. He deflected eighteen passes and returned four interceptions for 24 yards.

positives

Well-built athlete with long limbs, lean muscle tone and explosive moves...Has loose hips to turn and run coming out of his backpedal...Stays in control in man coverage and has no trouble with his speed in attempts to mirror tight ends...Can press, turn and trail effectively vs. wide receivers on deep routes...Side shuffles quite a bit in his backpedal, but has above average foot quickness and control out of his breaks...His plant-and-drive agility allows him to generate explosive acceleration when closing...Has the range to cover ground from sideline-to-sideline, demonstrating the second gear needed to recover and make up ground going deep...Uses his size well to combat receivers for the ball and has the natural hands and ball skills to adjust and maintain position tracking the ball in flight...Thanks to his experience on offense during his prep days, he easily catches the ball outside his frame...Punishing tackler who charges hard to close in run support and is not timid taking on blockers in the box...Stays low in his pads and hits with good pop on contact...Has the strength to stack and control, showing the ability to split double teams when trying to apply pocket pressure.

in run support, allen knows his assignments and is a big hitter who is capable of facing up, wrapping and tackling with good power behind his hits. he takes good angles to close and uses his hands well to play off blocks.

Because of the hip injury, Allen is sort of in a Catch-22. He showed that he was recovering nicely at the Combine and performed well in most drills. However, until he puts on the pads again, you can never tell if his hip will hold up to NFL pounding.

negatives

Has a history of shoulder problems and while he has made steady progress recovering from his dislocated left hip, he has yet to put on the pads to see if the injury can stand up to constant pounding...Slow to recognize plays, but shows good urgency to close once he locates the ball...Needs to refine his backpedal technique (eliminate the side shuffle), but does have the speed to recover...Best in man coverage, as he is sometimes influenced by play-action and makes decisions late, getting caught out of position before he can react...Has very good timed speed, but struggles a bit to maintain position when trying to cover on the perimeter...Makes too many recognition errors working in the zone...Must settle on one position so he can work on technique refinement in that area.

allen is a physical tackler with above average timed speed. he has the hip snap and speed to compensate for a marginal backpedal technique (uses a side shuffle) and does not take wasted steps transitioning out. with his long legs, he can cover ground quickly and has a quick short area burst to close on the ball.

Allen lacks valid instincts and is influenced a bit by play-action working in the zone. He has the speed to cover the deep third of the field, but struggles to read the plays and looks hesitant at times handling the switch-off. When he tries to freelance in the zone, he will neglect his responsibilities.

allen has no problems mirroring tight ends in the short area and does a good job of pressing and trailing receivers on long routes. when he peeks into the backfield, he will get in trouble in man coverage, but he has more than enough quickness to recover.

Allen gets a good break on the ball and times his leaps well, using his size to combat the bigger receivers going up for the pass. He has the natural ball skills to challenge the opponent and soft hands to reach and pluck the ball. Few defensive backs can get to the high point of the pass like Allen can.

2005: Underwent shoulder surgery after the 2005 Cotton Bowl vs. Texas A&M...Suffered a left hip dislocation when Georgia tight end Leonard Pope rolled over Allen on a play just before halftime (10/23). Allen was carted off the field and taken to the hospital, and would not return to the field for the team's final six contests.

Combine: 4.41 in the 40-yard dash

2.56 20-yard dash

1.51 10-yard dash

Bench pressed 225 pounds 17 times

3.81 20-yard shuttle

11.17 60-yard shuttle

6.75 three-cone drill

39.5-inch vertical jump

10'11" broad jump

31 ½-inch arm length

8-inch hands.

Attended Muscle Shoals (Ala.) High School, playing for head coach Cody Keene

All-American selection by Super Prep, Prep Star and Borderwars.com as a senior

Twice named to the Class 5A All-State team as a running back and chosen Alabama Gatorade Player of the Year

Rated the best player in Alabama by Birmingham News and Mobile Register and selected the Class 5A Back of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association

As senior, he rushed for 1,740 yards and 21 touchdowns, adding 378 yards and three scores receiving.

Graduated in December 2004 with a degree in Sports Management

Born Jason Jamar Allen on 7/05/83

Resides in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.