Jason Allen

Infobox NFLactive


name=Jason Allen
|width=
caption=
currentteam=Miami Dolphins
currentnumber=32
currentpositionplain=Cornerback/Safety
birthdate=birth date and age|1983|6|5
birthplace=Muscle Shoals, Alabama
country=USA
heightft=6
heightin=1
weight=213
debutyear=2006
debutteam=Miami Dolphins
highlights=
* Alabama Gatorade Player of the Year (2001)
* Second-team All-SEC (2004)
* Third-team All-American (2004)
* Jim Thorpe Award semi-finalist (2004)
college=Tennessee
draftyear=2006
draftround=1
draftpick=16
pastteams=
* Miami Dolphins (2006-present)
statweek=17
statseason=2007
statlabel1=Tackles
statvalue1=82
statlabel2=Sacks
statvalue2=0.0
statlabel3=INT
statvalue3=4
nfl=ALL464310

Jason Jamar Allen (born July 5, 1983 in Muscle Shoals, Alabama) is an American football cornerback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dolphins 16th overall of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Tennessee.

High school career

Allen earned various honors while playing football at Muscle Shoals High School in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He was named an All-American from SuperPrep, PrepStar and Borderwars.com. He was twice a 5A All-State running back and was once selected as the Alabama Gatorade Player of the Year. As a senior, he ran for 1,740 yards and 21 touchdowns while adding 378 yards and three scores receiving. His performance earned him the honor of being the No. 1 player in Alabama by Birmingham News and Mobile Register.

Allen also lettered in track and basketball at Muscle Shoals. He graduated early in January 2002.

College career

Allen was a four-year letterman and three-year starter for the Tennessee Volunteers. He appeared in 43 games with 26 starting, including 12 starts at Safety (American football) and 14 at cornerback.

2002

By graduating in January, Allen was able to attend spring practices at the University of Tennessee. He went on to play in 13 games as a true freshman in 2002, finishing with five tackles.

2003

As a starting cornerback in 2003, Allen starter eight of the 13 games in which he appeared and amassed 57 tackles (43 solo), a forced fumble, two interceptions, 11 passes defensed and a blocked kick. His first career interception sealed a win against Marshall. His breakout came against the University of Alabama, when he had 12 tackles, a blocked field goal and two pass breakups including the game-sealing one on fourth-and-two in the fifth overtime.

2004

Allen started the first game of the season at cornerback before moving to safety for the final 12 contests. He finished with 123 tackles which led the SEC while also becoming the first non-linebacker to lead the team in tackles since records began in 1970. His 88 solo stops were third in the entire nation among Division I-A schools. Along with his tackles, he totaled two sacks, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, two interceptions and seven passes defensed during the year.

For his performance during the season, Allen was a third team Associated Press All-America selection, second team All-SEC Coaches and Associated Press selection, Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist. He also earned Walter Camp Division I-A Defensive Player of the Week honors on October 23.

2005

Allen suffered a season-ending dislocated hip in the fifth game of the season in 2005. Prior to the injury, he recorded 35 tackles (28 solo) with a 10-yard sack, three stops for losses, a forced fumble and deflected two passes.

Professional career

2006

Allen was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the first round (16th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft. He was selected by then-head coach Nick Saban, who faced Allen while head coach at Louisiana State. Saban also unsuccessfully recruited Allen out of high school while at LSU.

While Allen was initially expected to sign quickly after owner Wayne Huizenga expressed displeasure at the prolonged negotiations with first-round pick Ronnie Brown the year before, talks with Allen came to a standstill in late July. The hangup was the length of the deal, with the Dolphins wanting six years and Allen wanting only five. Allen eventually agreed to a six-year contract on August 8, but the delay caused Allen's progression to slow. He was unable to win a starting job out of the gate and struggled during the preseason and early in the regular season.

Allen appeared in a reserve role in all 16 games for the Dolphins in 2006, primarily at safety. His first career interception and lone pick of the season came in an upset win over the previous undefeated Chicago Bears on November 5 when he intercepted a Rex Grossman pass and returned it seven yards. On the year, Allen recorded 20 tackles (15 solo), one interception and one pass defensed.

2007

Despite primarily playing safety during his rookie season, Allen worked exclusively at cornerback during the team's April minicamps. After many injuries from the dolphins secondary, Allen was able to achieve a starting position against the Giants in London. Allen recorded 62 tackles and 55 solo tackles in the 2007 season. He is currently the backup free safety for the Miami Dolphins behind Renaldo Hill.

External links

* [http://www.miamidolphins.com/newsite/team/roster/playerBio.asp?docid=21377 Miami Dolphins Bio]
* [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/allen_jason00.html Tennessee Volunteers Bio]