Josh Allen (linebacker)

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For the quarterback, see Josh Allen. For other people, see Josh Allen (disambiguation).

Josh Allen
refer to caption
Allen with the Jaguars in 2022
No. 41 – Jacksonville Jaguars
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1997-07-13) July 13, 1997 (age 26)
Cumberland, Virginia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:255 lb (116 kg)
Career information
High school:Montclair
(Montclair, New Jersey)
College:Kentucky (2015–2018)
NFL draft:2019 / Round: 1 / Pick: 7
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Total tackles:251
Sacks:45.0
Pass deflections:8
Interceptions:2
Forced fumbles:9
Fumble recoveries:3
Defensive touchdowns:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Joshua Allen (born July 13, 1997) is an American football linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Kentucky, where he received unanimous All-American honors, and was selected seventh overall by the Jaguars in the 2019 NFL draft. During his rookie season, Allen was named to the Pro Bowl.

Early years

Allen was born on July 13, 1997, to Kim and Robert Allen in Cumberland County, Virginia.[1] He has a twin brother, Isaiah, and four older sisters. Due to a stutter, he spent part of his studies in New Jersey's special education system. Allen then went to live with his relatives in Alabama, attending Abbeville High School. He was later diagnosed with ADHD.[2]

Although Allen grew up playing basketball, his uncle convinced him to try out for the

Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) school not far from Montclair, but later received an offer from Kentucky.[3]

Recruitment

Despite Allen leading New Jersey in sacks as a senior, he was still very much under the

Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) school had offered him a scholarship, and no other NCAA Division I school, whether FBS or FCS, had made him an offer.[4]

Allen's journey to Kentucky began with West Orange High School head coach Jim Matsakis, whose team had faced Montclair High in Allen's senior year. Matsakis made a phone call to his brother Louie, who was then on the Wildcats coaching staff. Louie first contacted D. J. Eliot, then Kentucky's outside linebackers coach, who in turn contacted the then-defensive backs coach Derrick Ansley while the latter was on a recruiting trip in the Washington metropolitan area. Eliot told Ansley to detour to New Jersey to meet with Allen, and arrange for an immediate campus visit if he was at least 6'4". While Allen had verbally committed to Monmouth, he was still available for recruitment as he had yet to sign a letter of intent. Allen visited Kentucky and signed with the Wildcats three days later.[4]

College career

Following his junior season in which he had 7 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss, Allen was named to the

SEC Defensive Player of the Year.[10][11] Allen finished his career as Kentucky's all-time sack leader with 31.5.[12]

College statistics

Kentucky Wildcats
Year Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
Solo Ast Total Loss Sack Int Yards Avg TD PD FR Yards TD FF
2015 3 1 3 4 1.5 0.5 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
2016 13 32 30 62 8.5 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
2017 13 32 34 66 10.5 7 1 14 14 0 3 0 0 0 2
2018 13 56 32 88 21.5 17 0 0 0 0 4 2 0 0 5

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split
20-yard shuttle
 Three-cone drill Broad jump Bench press
Wonderlic
6 ft 4+7⁄8 in
(1.95 m) 		262 lb
(119 kg) 		33+1⁄2 in
(0.85 m) 		8+3⁄4 in
(0.22 m)		 4.63 s 1.57 s 2.70 s 4.23 s 7.15 s 9 ft 10 in
(3.00 m)		 28 reps 15
All values from
NFL Combine[13][14]

2019

Allen alongside Jurrell Casey and Geno Atkins at the 2020 Pro Bowl

Allen was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the seventh overall pick in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft.[15] On May 23, 2019, Allen signed his four-year rookie contract, worth a fully guaranteed $21.8 million, including a $14.6 million signing bonus.[16]

During Week 3 against the Tennessee Titans, Allen recorded his first two career sacks on Marcus Mariota as the Jaguars won 20–7.[17] Two weeks later against the Carolina Panthers, he sacked Kyle Allen once in the 34–27 road loss.[18] During Week 8 against the New York Jets, Allen sacked Sam Darnold twice in the 29–15 win.[19]

Allen finished the season with a team-leading (and franchise rookie record-setting) 10.5 sacks, 44 tackles, and two forced fumbles. Following the AFC Championship Game, he was selected as a Pro Bowl alternate for defensive end Frank Clark. As a result, Allen became the first Jaguars player in history to be selected to the Pro Bowl in their rookie season.

2020

In Week 3 against the Miami Dolphins on Thursday Night Football, Allen recorded his first sack of the season during the 31–13 loss.[20] On November 24, 2020, Allen was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury.[21]

2021

In Week 9 against the Buffalo Bills, Allen helped lead the Jaguars to a 9–6 upset with a career game. Allen had eight tackles, a sack, an interception, and a fumble recovery on Bills quarterback Josh Allen, becoming the first player in NFL history to record a sack, interception, and a fumble recovery from a quarterback with the same name.[22]

2022

The Jaguars picked up the fifth-year option on Allen's contract on April 28, 2022.[23]

In the team's final regular-season game, Allen scored the game-winning touchdown on a fumble recovery against the Titans, securing the Jaguars their first division title and playoff berth since 2017.[24][25] He was named AFC Defensive Player Of The Week for his performance.[26]

2023

In Week 1, Allen started off the year with three sacks against the Indianapolis Colts, helping secure a 31–21 win for the Jaguars.[27] In Week 12, Allen recorded 2.5 sacks, five tackles, including two for a loss in a 24–21 win over the Houston Texans, earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week.[28]

Allen finished the season with 17.5 sacks, a career high and franchise record for most sacks in a season,[29] and was named to the 2024 Pro Bowl.[30]

2024

On March 5, 2024, the Jaguars placed the franchise tag on Allen.[31] On April 10, 2024, the Jaguars signed Allen to a five-year extension worth $150 million, including $88 million guaranteed.[32]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Bold Career best

Regular season

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast TFL Sck Sfty PD Int Yds Y/I Lng TD FF FR Yds Y/R TD
2019 JAX 16 4 44 31 13 11 10.5 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 2 0 0 — 0
2020 JAX 8 7 13 7 6 2 2.5 0 1 0 0 — 0 0 0 0 0 — 0
2021 JAX 16 15 71 46 25 12 7.5 0 4 1 11 11.0 11 0 1 1 0 0.0 0
2022 JAX 17 17 57 35 22 11 7.0 0 2 0 0 — 0 0 4 2 38 19.0 1
2023 JAX 17 17 66 43 23 17 17.5 0 1 1 8 8.0 8 0 2 0 0 0.0 0
Career 74 60 251 162 89 53 45.0 0 8 2 19 9.5 11 0 9 3 38 12.7 1

Postseason

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast TFL Sck Sfty PD Int Yds Y/I Lng TD FF FR Yds Y/R TD
2022 JAX 2 2 11 7 4 1 1.0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 0 0 0 — 0
Career 2 2 11 7 4 1 1.0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 0 0 0 — 0

Jaguars franchise records

  • Most sacks by a rookie in a season: 10.5 (2019)
  • First rookie to be named to the Pro Bowl (2019)[33]
  • Most sacks in a season (17.5) (2023)

Personal life

One of his sisters,

Hampton when the Pirates were still in Division II and was chosen in the fifth round of the 1983 NBA draft; although he never played in the league, he did play professionally for over a decade.[4]

Allen married Kaitlyn Morrison on April 17, 2019. The two met freshman year of college in 2015 at the University of Kentucky. Kaitlyn is from Ohio and has a license in Cosmetology, as well as attending college for psychology. Allen has three children with his wife: Wesley, Julian, and Vanessa.

References

  1. ^ "Happy Birthday @JoshAllen41_ 🎂! #WeAreUK". Twitter. July 13, 2018.
  2. ^ a b Smith, Jennifer (July 13, 2018). "'Nothing ever comes easy.' That lesson has forged a potential UK superstar". Lexington Herald-Leader.
  3. ^ Roberts, Ben (January 31, 2015). "Under-the-radar New Jersey defensive end Josh Allen commits to Kentucky". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c Cimini, Rich (April 8, 2019). "Two-star to potential superstar: Josh Allen wants to be next Khalil Mack". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  5. ^ Chisenhall, Jeremy (December 4, 2017). "Benny Snell, Josh Allen make AP All-SEC teams". aseaofblue.com. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  6. ^ Hale, Jon (December 9, 2017). "Josh Allen, Mike Edwards considering leaving Kentucky football program for NFL draft". Courier Journal. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  7. ^ Hale, Jon (January 9, 2018). "Kentucky football linebacker Josh Allen returning to UK for senior season, not entering NFL draft". Courier Journal. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  8. ^ "Kentucky's Josh Allen Wins 2018 Bednarik Award as Top Defensive Player". Bleacher Report. December 6, 2018. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  9. ^ "Josh Allen wins Bronko Nagurski Award". wkyt.com. December 4, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  10. ^ Conway, Tyler. "Kentucky's Josh Allen Wins 2018 Bednarik Award as Top Defensive Player". Bleacher Report. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  11. ^ Pilgram, Jack (December 3, 2018). "Josh Allen wins Bronko Nagurski Trophy for Defensive Player of the Year". Kentucky Sports Radio.
  12. ^ "Josh Allen sets new Kentucky record with 27.5 career sacks". WKYT. November 17, 2018. Archived from the original on May 1, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  13. ^ "Josh Allen Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
  14. ^ "2019 NFL Draft Scout Josh Allen College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
  15. ^ Bergman, Jeremy. "Jaguars select pass rusher Josh Allen with No. 7 pick". NFL.com. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  16. ^ "Josh Allen signs rookie contract after being held out of OTA work with bruised knee".
  17. ^ "Minshew, defense shine as Jaguars thump Titans 20-7". www.espn.com. September 19, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  18. ^ "McCaffrey scores 3 TDs, Panthers hold off Jaguars 34-27". www.espn.com. October 6, 2019. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  19. ^ "Jets' Darnold throws 3 more picks in 29-15 loss at Jaguars". www.espn.com. October 27, 2019. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  20. ^ "Miami Dolphins at Jacksonville Jaguars - September 24th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  21. ^ "Josh Allen among three Jaguars defenders placed on IR". Big Cat Country. SB Nation. November 25, 2020.
  22. ^ "Jacksonville Jaguars' Josh Allen sacks, intercepts Buffalo Bills' Josh Allen". ESPN.com. November 7, 2021. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  23. ^ "Fifth-year option tracker for first-round picks from the 2019 NFL Draft". NFL.com.
  24. ^ "See Jacksonville Jaguars take lead on Joshua Dobbs strip sack, Josh Allen fumble return TD". The Tennessean. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  25. ^ Williams, Charean (January 8, 2023). "Jaguars win AFC South by beating Titans 20-16". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  26. ^ Alper, Josh (January 11, 2023). "Josh Allen named the AFC defensive player of the week". yahoo.com. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  27. ^ "Jaguars Josh Allen Shines with Three Sacks in 31-21 Victory Over Colts Game That Was". Jaguars.com. September 10, 2023.
  28. ^ Gordon, Grant (November 29, 2023). "Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, Rams RB Kyren Williams highlight Players of the Week". NFL.com.
  29. ^ "Most Sacks In A Season In Jaguars History". StatMuse. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  30. ^ "2024 Pro Bowl: Josh Allen, Ross Matiscik Named". www.jaguars.com. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  31. ^ Oehser, John (March 5, 2024). "Official: Jaguars Place Franchise Tag on Josh Allen". Jaguars.com.
  32. ^ Shook, Nick (April 10, 2024). "Jaguars pass rusher Josh Allen agrees to new five-year, $150 million deal". NFL.com.
  33. ^ Reid, John. "Jaguars rookie DE Josh Allen enjoying first Pro Bowl experience". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  34. Courier Journal. Louisville, KY
    . Retrieved April 6, 2018.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Josh Allen (American football player, 1997).
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