CJ Allen LB Georgia | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
CJ Allen LB Georgia
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| PLAY STYLE: BOX LB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 05/19/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.55 seconds (88%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 20.2 DOB: 03/01/2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| PLAY STYLE: BOX LB | |
| Last Updated: 05/19/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| 40 time: 4.55 seconds (88%*) | |
| Age: 20.2 DOB: 03/01/2005 | |
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| Overall Rating: | 86.2 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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79% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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89% |
| Pass Rush: |
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72% |
| Run Defense: |
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92% |
| Coverage: |
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57% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
2nd - Mid
Overall Rank:
#42
Position rank:
#3
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| College Games: 27 College Snaps: 1031 | ||
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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83% |
| Kobe King - Penn State |
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78% |
| Danny Stutsman - Oklahoma |
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78% |
Draft Profile: Bio
CJ Allen burst onto the scene at Georgia after arriving as a four-star recruit from Lamar County High School, where his multi-sport background hinted at his exceptional athletic profile. The 6'1", 235-pound linebacker turned heads as a freshman in 2023 when injuries thrust him into action, and he responded with 41 tackles and flashes of playmaking ability. His nine-tackle, one-sack performance against Ole Miss earned him SEC Freshman of the Week honors and signaled the arrival of Georgia's next defensive cornerstone.Allen's sophomore campaign in 2024 cemented his status as a rising star, appearing in all 14 games with 12 starts and finishing second on the team with 76 tackles. His nose for the football was evident throughout the season, particularly in Georgia's eight-overtime thriller against Georgia Tech, where he posted a career-high 10 tackles. Allen showed growth in coverage as well, snagging an interception against Florida and breaking up five passes over the course of the season, demonstrating the versatility coveted in modern NFL linebackers.
Now entering his junior season, Allen appears poised to follow the trajectory of previous Georgia linebacker greats under defensive guru Glenn Schumann. The Bulldogs' linebacker factory has produced three Butkus Award winners and multiple first-round NFL selections, with each reaching their peak in their third year in the program. With Jalon Walker moving on to the NFL, Allen steps into the spotlight as the veteran presence in Georgia's linebacker room, ready to stake his claim as the next defensive star to emerge from Athens.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Exceptional closing speed translates directly to game situations, evidenced by how quickly he chased down Florida's running back in space during their Jacksonville matchup.
- Brings the thunder as a tackler when he arrives at the point of contact, delivering bone-jarring hits that echo throughout the stadium and set a physical tone.
- Diagnoses running plays with uncanny quickness, showing rare instincts against Georgia Tech when he repeatedly met ballcarriers in the hole before blocks developed.
- His tackling technique stands out on film, consistently wrapping up with proper form rather than lunging or arm-tackling, especially evident against Tennessee's powerful runners.
- Fluid hips in coverage allow him to transition smoothly from run support to pass defense, as displayed when he snagged that crucial interception against Florida.
- Weaponized speed makes him a dangerous blitzer who can split interior gaps or turn the corner when coming off the edge, collapsing the pocket with explosive first steps.
- Demonstrates advanced block-shedding technique using strong hands to create separation while maintaining gap responsibility, particularly impressive against Alabama's veteran offensive line.
- Football IQ jumps off the screen with his pre-snap communication and adjustment skills, frequently realigning teammates before diagnosing and disrupting Ole Miss's complex run schemes.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Man coverage assignments against athletic tight ends remain a developmental area, as Notre Dame's tight end created separation on several critical third downs in their playoff matchup.
- Occasionally shows lower body tightness when changing direction against misdirection plays, creating brief recovery delays that SEC opponents exploited on counter runs.
- Over-aggression leads to overrunning certain plays, creating cutback lanes that Texas's patient running backs found for chunk gains during their regular season meeting.
- Needs more refined pass rush moves beyond his athletic gifts, relying too heavily on speed rather than technique when asked to pressure opposing quarterbacks.
- Film study reveals momentary hesitation against play-action, particularly evident against Tennessee when their quarterback consistently froze him with convincing fakes.
Scouting Report: Summary
Allen has legitimate three-down potential at the next level with the athletic profile and instincts to make an immediate impact against the run. His sideline-to-sideline range jumps off the screen, particularly when tracking down perimeter runs or blitzing from unexpected angles. However, his coverage responsibilities will need continued refinement, as his reactions in zone coverage occasionally come a beat slow and his man technique remains inconsistent against savvy route runners.What separates Allen from many of his peers is how he combines his athletic gifts with growing football intelligence. The Georgia linebacker reads and processes information quickly, allowing him to play at full speed rather than hesitating before triggering downhill. This diagnostic ability helps mask some of his current coverage limitations. While he's shown promising development in passing situations, quarterbacks at the next level will test him early and often until he proves he can consistently handle complex route combinations.
The NFL transition should be relatively smooth for Allen given his experience in Georgia's pro-style defensive system. His value on day one comes as a run-stopping enforcer who brings physicality between the tackles and range to the perimeter, with developmental upside in coverage that will determine his ultimate ceiling. Teams running multiple defensive fronts will particularly value his versatility and football character, offering the foundation of a defensive signal-caller who can grow into a cornerstone linebacker.
How other scouting services rate CJ Allen (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
55.3
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.