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2019 NFL Mock Draft: Dexter Lawrence continues to rise

By Rucker Haringey

CLEMSON, SC - SEPTEMBER 2: Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence #90 of the Clemson Tigers #90 celebrates a tackle against the Kent State Golden Flashes on September 2, 2017 at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Todd Bennett/Getty Images)
CLEMSON, SC - SEPTEMBER 2: Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence #90 of the Clemson Tigers #90 celebrates a tackle against the Kent State Golden Flashes on September 2, 2017 at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Todd Bennett/Getty Images) /
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LUBBOCK, TX – SEPTEMBER 15: Dakota Allen (40) of the Texas Tech Red Raiders lines up in the backfield during the college football game between the Houston Cougars versus the Texas Tech Red Raiders on September 15, 2018, at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, TX. (Photo by Travis Tustin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX – SEPTEMBER 15: Dakota Allen (40) of the Texas Tech Red Raiders lines up in the backfield during the college football game between the Houston Cougars versus the Texas Tech Red Raiders on September 15, 2018, at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, TX. (Photo by Travis Tustin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

player. 55. . Linebacker. Texas Tech. Dakota Allen. 22

Yes, this is the same Dakota Allen that featured as a prominent character on Neftlix’s documentary Last Chance U. Since re-enrolling at Texas Tech, he’s been a dynamic force for the Red Raider defense.

The unfortunate injury to Ryan Shazier leaves the Steelers with a massive hole at linebacker. They need to find a player who can patrol the middle against both the run and pass. Bringing Allen into the fold would give Mike Tomlin a linebacker who can cover running backs and tight ends in space.

The knock against Allen is that he doesn’t have the prototypical size to play middle linebacker. The way the game is headed, that sort of size is going to be less and less important in the future. Anyone playing at the second level against the best NFL offenses will need to be able to function in pass coverage. That’s arguably the best part of Allen’s game.

This might be a little too high for the Steelers to draft an inside linebacker, but Allen is too perfect of a fit in their system to ignore. It’s possible Pittsburgh will try to wait and pick him up in round two, but drafting a probable starter in round one is always a good move.

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