Alabama vs Clemson: 5 players to watch in National Championship Game
By John Buhler
Jonathan Allen
Defensive End, Alabama Crimson Tide
There is only one player in the 2016 National Championship that is essentially guaranteed to go in the top-five of the 2017 NFL Draft. His name is Jonathan Allen, he plays defensive end for Alabama, and he is an absolute wrecking ball for the Crimson Tide.
When people look back on this all-time Alabama front-seven, Allen will likely be the first guy they talk about when remembering this defensive front. Like teammate Foster, Allen elected to come back to Tuscaloosa in his senior season to improve his draft stock, his upside as a player, and to win another national title.
Though he didn’t make it to New York City for the Heisman Trophy ceremony, Allen was probably the SEC’s best case for the 2016 honor. The guy straight up destroyed opponents in SEC play. There is almost no way that he gets past the Tennessee Titans at No. 5 in the 2017 NFL Draft.
He could go as high as No. 2 to the San Francisco 49ers. No. 3 to the Chicago Bears or No. 4 to the Jacksonville Jaguars feel like probable landing spots for this blue-chip prospect. Allen’s NFL prototype might be Fletcher Cox or Gerald McCoy if he plays the 3-technique in a 4-3. He might even be a better player as a 5-technique in a 3-4 scheme.
This is a game where college football fans can just sit back and appreciate the type of player Allen was for Alabama these last four seasons. Odds are that we’ll look back and really miss seeing him wreak havoc in opposing SEC backfields on fall Saturdays.