jason allen

#1
21VOL

21VOL

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#1
UT's Allen files for NFL

By CHRIS LOW
Staff Writer


KNOXVILLE - Tennessee junior free safety Jason Allen has decided that he's ready for the NFL.

Allen said last night that he's filed for early entry into the draft, although he's left himself a window to change his mind by waiting to sign with an agent.

The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the NFL draft is Jan. 15. But by not signing with an agent, Allen would have until Jan. 19 to rescind his paperwork.

''I've thought about it a lot and talked it over with my parents, and I feel like it's time to go to the next level,'' said Allen, who led the SEC in tackles this season.

''I haven't signed with an agent, and I'm not going to. That way, if I get a different feeling at the last minute, I can back out of it. But I don't expect that to happen.''


The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Allen said he received a second-round grade from the NFL draft advisory committee and believes he can improve his draft position even more with strong testing sessions.

He moved to free safety this season to fill a void after playing cornerback as a sophomore. His preference is to play cornerback in the NFL.

''I feel like I can put up some big numbers at the Combine,'' said Allen, who graduated in December with a degree in sport management.

''I think I can run in the 4.3's (in the 40-yard dash) and do 38 or 40 inches in the vertical jump. I want to play corner, but just like here at Tennessee, I'll play wherever the team wants me to play.''

Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer and defensive coordinator John Chavis still plan to visit with Allen at his home in Muscle Shoals, Ala., tomorrow.

''I don't know if it's my place to change his mind,'' Fulmer said. ''We're just going to discuss his options. We've done that with all our players.''

Losing Allen will be a huge blow to the Vols' secondary, which struggled at times this season.

They were especially thin at safety, and with Allen gone, it's almost a certainty that a first-year player will have to come in and play immediately next season.

The first-team All-SEC performer would have been a second-year captain had he returned.

''There were pros and cons to me leaving, and Tennessee was great to me,'' Allen said. ''But this is my decision, and I'm going with it.''
 
#2
#2
I hate to hear that. I wish him well in whatever he decides but it would have been nice to have him back next year.
 
#3
#3
Ouch. I was really excited about seeing him play next year. I'm sure a lot of coaches around the SEC enjoyed this story over coffee this morning.

Looks like we're really gonna need a young player to step up and fill his shoes.
 
#4
#4
that hurts but good luck to him, hope he does well at the next level
 
#5
#5
Well, I hope that he is making the right choice. Good luck to him, hope he gets drafted.
 
#6
#6
:unsure: Ouch is right, that stinks big time. He was our rock this year, next year will be tough without him.

He will get drafted on the first day no doubt, he's a stud.

Good luck Jason, I really enjoyed watching you work. :clap:
 
#8
#8
maybe, we'll need someboby to step up and fill that hole and by the way welcome to the nation.
 
#9
#9
It ain't over yet. All he has done is file his papers. Until he hires an agent, he can change his mind. Many other players have done this in the past only to find out they wouldn't go as high in the draft as they thought. Can't say for sure that's on Jason's mind, but you never know!
 
#10
#10
Unless his stock rises substantially in the coming weeks, his current projection of 2nd round is not really high enough to come out. He would be a dominate force next year and get into the first round. That would get him more money at that time then where he would get to by then by coming out early and playing a year. All depends on how bad he needs the money. If he can 'survise' another year in college financially, I can't see him coming out early for only a 2nd round pick. Too much talent to waste going that low. Of course, the unknown of making next year injury free....
 
#11
#11
I agree in wishing him well. in watching him this year hes a very good defensive back....but 1 more year wouldve made him a 1st rounder....im thinkin he'll go 2nd round to mabye as low as 5th round....a lil polishing wouldve done him a world of good. Guess his parents decided their retirement porfolio was 1st priority
 
#12
#12
all those shots of him getting rolled over at the goal line isn't helping his draft predictions any
 
#16
#16
I think the 2nd round is wishful thinking on Allen's part. More realistic would be the 5th or 6th.
 
#17
#17
Originally posted by Z06Vol@Jan 7, 2005 7:14 PM
I think the 2nd round is wishful thinking on Allen's part. More realistic would be the 5th or 6th.
Click to expand...

3rd at the latest, a team will take him on the 1st day.
 
#18
#18
For Jason's sake, hope you're right. I don't know if being a great tackler will get you into the 2nd round. His covering skills didn't look so hot during the last half of the season.
 
#19
#19
Originally posted by Z06Vol@Jan 7, 2005 7:31 PM
For Jason's sake, hope you're right. I don't know if being a great tackler will get you into the 2nd round. His covering skills didn't look so hot during the last half of the season.
Click to expand...

At safety, there arent that many good coverage skilled safeties, guys like Mike Doss went in round 2 for their hitting and tackling.
 
#23
#23
I'd say his future looks somewhat questionable, wait another year. If the we do as well as we're projected to, that would be a huge benefit.
 
#25
#25
Somebody call Tommy Gallion and tell him Allen made a mistake in filing his papers. Maybe all the ensuing hoopla would delay his leaving.


Hey, Gallion's gotta be good for SOMETHING.
 
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