Zach Allen
{{Short description|American football player (born 1997)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Zach Allen
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_team = Denver Broncos
| number = 99
| position = Defensive end
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|8|20}}
| birth_place = New Canaan, Connecticut, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lb = 285
| high_school = New Canaan
| college = Boston College (2015–2018)
| draftyear = 2019
| draftround = 3
| draftpick = 65
| pastteams =
- Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2019}}–{{NFL Year|2022}})
- Denver Broncos ({{NFL Year|2023}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
| statleague = NFL
| statseason = 2024
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 259
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 25.0
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 = 1
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 = 3
| statlabel5 = Interceptions
| statvalue5 = 1
| statlabel6 = Pass deflections
| statvalue6 = 17
| statlabel7 = Defensive touchdowns
| statvalue7 = 1
| pfr = AlleZa01
}}
Zachary William-Jacob Allen (born August 20, 1997) is an American professional football defensive end for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL).{{cite web|url=https://www.azcardinals.com/team/players-roster/zach-allen/|title=Zach Allen DEFENSIVE END|publisher=azcardinals.com|access-date=April 27, 2019}} He played college football for the Boston College Eagles.{{cite web|url=https://bceagles.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=10137|title=BC No.2 Zach Allen|publisher=bceagles.com|access-date=March 6, 2019}}
College career
As a freshman in 2015, Allen played in all 12 games of the regular season, primarily as a member of the special teams unit. He participated in 66 plays on special teams and 46 plays at defensive end. In the first game of his collegiate career, Allen registered an assisted tackle in the season opener vs. Maine and recorded one solo tackle against Howard.
In 2016, Allen played in 13 games (2016 Quick Lane Bowl), making one start against Georgia Tech in Dublin. Allen recorded 36 tackles on the season, including 19 solo tackles, and 17 assists, as well as 6.0 sacks. On the year he deflected 4 passes and had 2 fumble recoveries. In the 2016 Quick Lane Bowl, Allen played a big part in the victory over the Maryland Terrapins, recording a single-game career high of 2 sacks for a loss of 15 yards, along with 2 solo tackles.{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/zach-allen-5.html|title=Zach Allen Stat Overview|publisher=sports-reference.com|access-date=March 6, 2019}}
In 2017, Allen was promoted to a full-time starting defensive end and started in all 13 games (2017 Pinstripe Bowl). Allen had a career year: He had 47 solo tackles and 53 assists, with 15.5 tackles for loss, a 5.5 improvement. Allen was one of only two defensive lineman to record at least 100 tackles. Despite the leap in tackles, his sack production dropped to 4.0, 2.0 fewer than the 6.0 he recorded in 2016. Allen recorded 1 interception and deflected 3 passes. After posting a career-high 14 tackles against Virginia Tech, Allen was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive lineman of the week.{{cite web|title=Boston College's Allen named ACC lineman of the week|author=Stewart, Dave|url=https://ncadvertiser.com/108409/boston-colleges-allen-named-acc-lineman-of-the-week/|date=October 9, 2017|access-date=May 3, 2018|work=New Canaan Advertiser}} After the season, Allen won the Bulger Love Award, given to New England's best offensive and defensive NCAA football players.{{cite web|title=Zach Allen wins Bulger Lowe Award as top defensive player in New England|author=Stewart, Dave|url=https://ncadvertiser.com/111584/zach-allen-wins-bulger-lowe-award-as-top-defensive-player-in-new-england/|date=November 28, 2017|access-date=May 3, 2018|work=New Canaan Advertiser}} There was speculation that Allen would declare for the 2018 NFL draft after his junior season, but he later announced that he would return to school for his senior year.{{cite web|title=BC defensive end Zach Allen will be back for senior season|author=Benbow, Julian|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/colleges/2018/01/05/defensive-end-zach-allen-will-back-for-senior-season/4XmMtvRIC8PmvaxJixOIYI/story.html|date=January 5, 2018|access-date=May 3, 2018|work=Boston Globe}}
In 2018, Allen played in all 12 regular season games; however, he did not participate in the 2018 First Responder Bowl. On the year, Allen proved to still be quite productive, recording 26 solo tackles, 35 assists, and 15.0 tackles for loss. Allen had a career-high for sacks in 2018, recording 6.5, a 0.5 improvement over his 2016 record. Allen tallied 1 interception, which was returned for 6 yards, and deflected a career-high 7 passes, doubling all of his previous years' deflected passes combined. He also had 2 fumble recoveries and his first career forced fumble.
=College statistics=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||||||||||||||
| colspan="18" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Boston College Eagles}};"| Boston College Eagles | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="2"| Season
! rowspan="2"| Class ! rowspan="2"| Pos ! rowspan="2"| GP ! colspan="5"| Tackles ! colspan="5"| Interceptions ! colspan="4"| Fumbles | |||||||||||||||
| Solo | Ast | Cmb | TfL | Sck | Int | Yds | Avg | TD | PD | FR | Yds | TD | FF | ||
| 2015 | FR | DE
| 2 || 1 || 1 || 2 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||
| 2016 | SO | DE
| 10 || 19 || 17 || 36 || 10 || 6.0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 4 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||
| 2017 | JR | DE
| 13 || 47 || 53 || 100 || 15.5 || 4.0 || 1 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||
| 2018 | SR | DE
| 12 || 26 || 35 || 61 || 15 || 6.5 || 1 || 6 || 6.0 || 0 || 7 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 1 | |||||||||||||
| colspan="3"| [https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/zach-allen-5.html Career] | 37 | 93 | 106 | 199 | 40.5 | 16.5 | 2 | 6 | 3.0 | 0 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 4 1/8
| weight = 281
| dash = 5.00
| ten split = 1.65
| twenty split = 2.91
| shuttle = 4.36
| cone drill = 7.34
| vertical = 32.0
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 4
| bench = 24
| wonderlic = 36
| arm span = 34 3/4
| hand span = 10 1/8
| note = All values from NFL Scouting Combine{{cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/zach-allen/3200414c-4c65-6181-7c3f-ad7870f8ae61 | title=Zach Allen Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |publisher=National Football League |access-date=March 6, 2019}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1003572&DraftYear=2019 |title=2019 Draft Scout Zach Allen, Boston College NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile |access-date=March 13, 2023 |website=draftscout.com}}
}}
=Arizona Cardinals=
Allen was selected by the Arizona Cardinals with the 65th overall pick in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/cardinals-select-defensive-end-zach-allen-in-third-round | title=Cardinals Select Defensive End Zach Allen In Third Round|website=AZCardinals.com|author=Odegard, Kyle|date=April 26, 2019 |access-date=April 27, 2019}} Following training camp, Allen was named a starting defensive end to start the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/cardinals-cut-darius-philon-zach-allen-gets-big-opportunity | title=Cardinals Cut Darius Philon, Zach Allen Gets Big Opportunity |website=azcardinals.com | author=Urban, Darren | date=August 10, 2019 | access-date=September 10, 2019}} Allen started for the Cardinals in his debut during Week 1 of the 2019 season against the Detroit Lions. During the game, Allen recorded three solo tackles.{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/player/zachallen/2562219/gamelogs?season=2019 | title=Zach Allen 2019 game logs |website=nfl.com | access-date=September 10, 2019}} He played in the first four games before suffering a neck injury in Week 4. He missed the next six games before being placed on injured reserve on November 13, 2019.{{Cite web |last=Urban |first=Darren |date=November 13, 2019 |title=Cardinals Place Zach Allen On Injured Reserve |url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/zach-allen-put-on-injured-reserve-miles-brown-promoted |access-date=September 15, 2023 |website=AZCardinals.com}}
In Week 1 of the 2020 season against the San Francisco 49ers, Allen recorded his first career sack on Jimmy Garoppolo during the 24–20 win.{{Cite web |title=Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers - September 13th, 2020 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202009130sfo.htm |access-date=September 18, 2020 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com}} He was placed on injured reserve on October 27, 2020.{{Cite web |last=Urban |first=Darren |date=October 27, 2020 |title=Cardinals Place Zach Allen, Isaiah Irving On Injured Reserve |url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/cardinals-place-zach-allen-isaiah-irving-on-injured-reserve-evan-baylis-cut |access-date=September 15, 2023 |website=AZCardinals.com}} He was activated on November 28, 2020.{{cite news |author=Urban, Darren |title=Zach Allen Activated, Josh Mauro, Darrell Daniels To Injured Reserve |url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/zach-allen-activated-josh-mauro-darrell-daniels-to-ir |website=AZCardinals.com |date=November 28, 2020 |access-date=January 5, 2021}} In Week 15 against the Philadelphia Eagles, Allen led the team with 11 tackles and sacked Jalen Hurts once during the 33–26 win.{{Cite web |title=Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals - December 20th, 2020 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202012200crd.htm |access-date=December 20, 2020 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com}}
Allen entered the 2021 season as a starting defensive end. He played in 15 games with 14 starts, recording 48 tackles, four sacks, and three fumble recoveries.{{Cite web |title=Zach Allen 2021 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AlleZa01/gamelog/2021/ |access-date=February 23, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com}}
=Denver Broncos=
On March 15, 2023, Allen signed a three-year, $45.75 million contract with the Denver Broncos.{{Cite web |last=DiLalla |first=Aric |date=March 15, 2023 |title=Broncos sign DE Zach Allen |url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-sign-de-zach-allen |access-date=May 18, 2023 |website=DenverBroncos.com}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Football stats}} [https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/zach-allen-5.html Sports Reference (college)]
- [https://www.denverbroncos.com/team/players-roster/zach-allen/ Denver Broncos bio]
- [https://bceagles.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=10137 Boston College Eagles bio]
{{Denver Broncos roster navbox}}
{{Arizona Cardinals 2019 draft navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, Zach}}
Category:American football defensive ends
Category:Arizona Cardinals players
Category:Boston College Eagles football players
Category:Denver Broncos players
Category:People from New Canaan, Connecticut
Category:Players of American football from Fairfield County, Connecticut