Kentucky’s Josh Allen Selected 7th Overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2019 NFL Draft

by
Former Writers
April 25, 2019

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Kentucky’s Josh Allen Selected 7th Overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2019 NFL Draft

The Jacksonville Jaguars have selected Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen with the 7th overall pick in the draft. That’s the NFL Draft, not the NBA. That’s right, Kentucky just had a player drafted in the NFL Draft. Is Kentucky a football school now? That’s still unclear, but if they are, Josh Allen would be a main reason. Let’s take a look at how he got here.

High School

Allen began his football career in his freshman year of high school in Alabama. He did not start a single game his freshman year. But by his sophomore season, Allen was playing receiver for the varsity team. Now, I know he got drafted as a linebacker, but it’s really not that surprising that he played receiver, because Allen was likely just such a stud that he could dominate anywhere in high school. It wasn’t until he moved back to New Jersey his senior year, where he had spent his childhood, that he began taking snaps on the defensive side of the ball. During his senior year, Allen played defensive end, leading his team to the state title. Despite his on the field dominance, Allen was not a highly sought-after recruit. Likely due to his changing locations, both on and off the field, making it difficult for recruiters to evaluate him.

College

After an initial period of no interest, Allen eventually committed to the University of Kentucky. Allen’s career really took off during his junior season, after which he was named to the All-SEC team. Allen even considered declaring for the NFL Draft after his junior year. However, he ultimately decided to stay at Kentucky, partly in order to be near his newborn son. It turned out to be a pretty good decision for him, as he wound up leading Kentucky to one of their best seasons ever.

At various points throughout the season, Kentucky was in contention for the SEC title. After the season, which saw Allen named Pro Football Focus’ best edge rusher in the country, he was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Allen also won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy for the national defensive player of the year. Josh Allen’s senior season will go down as one of the most dominant defensive performances in recent memory, and cemented him as a top ranked draft prospect.

Potential Impact

Allen has the potential to be a game-changing defender for the Jaguars. In addition to being an excellent pass-rusher, Allen can more than hold his own against the run and pass as well. At 6’5″ and 250lbs, Allen is undoubtedly equipped to hold his own at the NFL level. The real question will be how Jacksonville winds up using him schematically. But, regardless of where exactly he is on the field, Allen looks to become a name that quarterbacks will fear for years to come. Even Buffalo’s Josh Allen.