CJ Allen LB Georgia |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #3 PLAY STYLE: MULI-ROLE LB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 02/04/2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.55 seconds (88%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 21.5 DOB: 03/01/2005 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #3 | |
| PLAY STYLE: MULI-ROLE LB | |
| Last Updated: 02/04/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| Forty time: 4.55 seconds (88%*) | |
| Age: 21.5 DOB: 03/01/2005 | |
| Overall Rating: | 86.3 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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76% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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92% |
| Pass Rush: |
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74% |
| Run Defense: |
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97% |
| Coverage: |
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59% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
1st - Late
Overall Rank:
#30
Position rank:
#4 (LB)
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| College Games: 40 College Snaps: 1610 | ||
ESPN RATING: 84/100
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247 RATING: 97/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.9 (97%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Barrett Carter - Clemson |
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78% |
| Kobe King - Penn State |
|
73% |
| Daiyan Henley - Washington State |
|
73% |
Drafted: ROUND: 2 - Pick Number: 53 (IND)
Draft Profile: Bio
Christian Jamar Allen grew up in Barnesville, Georgia, a small town about two hours south of Athens, where he became a local legend at Lamar County High School. Born in March 2004, Allen was a true two-way force for the Trojans, lining up at both linebacker and running back while also competing in basketball and track. His senior season saw him pile up 84 tackles on defense while gashing opponents for over 1,600 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns on the other side of the ball. That versatility earned him 2021 Region 3-AA Player of the Year honors, an invitation to the All-American Bowl, and a consensus four-star rating from every major recruiting service.Allen enrolled early at Georgia in January 2023 and immediately worked his way into the rotation as a true freshman. Injuries opened the door, and when he got his first start against Ole Miss, he responded with nine tackles and a sack to claim SEC Freshman of the Week. He finished that season with 41 stops across 14 games, including five starts, with his performance in the Orange Bowl win over Florida State (six tackles, 1.5 for loss) showing he belonged on the big stage. By year two, he had locked down a starting spot, appearing in all 14 contests and racking up 76 tackles, an interception against Florida, and a career-high 10 stops in that wild eight-overtime finish against Georgia Tech.
The 2025 campaign represented Allen's coronation as the heartbeat of Georgia's defense. Standing 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds, he led the Bulldogs in tackles (88), tackles for loss (8.0), and sacks (3.5) while forcing two fumbles that swung games. His 11-tackle effort keyed the overtime win at Tennessee, and he came up with crucial forced fumbles against both Kentucky and Auburn. The accolades piled up accordingly: Butkus Award finalist, Lott IMPACT Trophy finalist, SEC Coaches All-SEC First Team, and a spot on watch lists for the Bednarik Award. Allen also served on both the SEC Student-Athlete Leadership Council and Football Leadership Council, cementing his reputation as much more than just a playmaker.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Put the tape on against any SEC running game and you will see Allen flying downhill with rare decisiveness, filling gaps before blocks can develop and meeting backs in the hole.
- Wraps up and finishes with textbook technique every single time; his missed tackle rate across three seasons is remarkably low, and he brings real thump at contact.
- Takes on pulling guards and lead blockers with leverage and proper hand placement, holding his ground at the point of attack rather than getting washed out of his gap.
- Covers ground sideline to sideline with that 4.55 speed, which shows up when he chases down stretch runs or rallies from the backside to make stops.
- Reads his keys quickly and trusts his instincts, triggering downhill without hesitation once he diagnoses the play, which allows him to play at full speed.
- Shows some dog in him as a blitzer, timing up his rushes through the A and B gaps with good burst off the snap and a knack for finding creases.
- Natural communicator who gets teammates aligned pre-snap and handles the green dot responsibilities with the poise of a ten-year veteran.
- Ball awareness in zone coverage has improved noticeably; he keeps his eyes on the quarterback while feeling routes around him and closes quickly on throws.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Hip stiffness limits his ability to flip and run with athletic tight ends or backs on angle routes, creating separation that better athletes will exploit.
- Gets caught flat-footed against quality play-action, taking a half-step forward before recognizing the pass and leaving soft spots in the middle of the field.
- Lacks the pop and physicality to consistently stack and shed bigger blockers; offensive linemen can absorb his contact and ride him out of the play.
- Man coverage assignments against NFL-caliber receiving threats will be a test; his footwork in transition needs refinement to stick with route breaks.
- Not a high-value playmaker despite the production; does not create turnovers, explosive hits, or splash plays at a rate that matches his overall production.
Scouting Report: Summary
Allen represents exactly what defensive coordinators covet in a modern off-ball linebacker: a player who can be trusted to do his job on every single snap without freelancing himself out of position. His calling card is run defense, and here is the deal with that skill set: it is legitimately elite. He reads and reacts faster than most college linebackers, fills gaps with proper leverage, and brings enough pop to stack blocks and disengage. The tackling numbers are not inflated by cleanup stats either; he meets runners in the hole and wraps up with fundamentals that NFL coaches will appreciate from day one.The coverage question is the one that will determine his ceiling at the next level. Right now, Allen can handle zone responsibilities without embarrassing himself, and his closing speed from the second level will limit damage on underneath throws. But asking him to match up with athletic tight ends or versatile backs on man coverage assignments will put stress on his hip fluidity and transition quickness. Coordinators will need to scheme around those limitations early in his career, using him in bracket situations or keeping his coverage responsibilities simple while his technique develops.
What makes Allen a safe selection is the total package beyond the physical traits. The leadership, the football intelligence, the experience in a pro-style system under Kirby Smart, and the three years of high-level SEC production all point toward a player who will start from Week 1 and anchor a defense for a long time. He is not going to wow anyone with splash plays or highlight-reel moments, but he will show up every Sunday, get the defense lined up, and rarely beat himself. Teams building a defense around reliability and culture will find a foundational piece here.
CJ Allen percentiles vs other Linebackers (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate CJ Allen (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
34.8
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
4.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.