Jonathan Allen: A Star Defensive Tackle in the NFL

Jonathan Allen is an American football defensive tackle for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Commanders with the 17th overall pick in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Allen played college football at Alabama, where he was a two-time College Football Playoff National Champion.

Early Life and College Career

Jonathan Allen was born in Anniston, Alabama on June 14, 1995. He attended Anniston High School, where he played football and was a standout athlete. As a senior, Allen was named Alabama's Class 3A Defensive Player of the Year.

After high school, Allen committed to play college football for the University of Alabama. He quickly became a starter on the Crimson Tide's defensive line and was a key contributor to Alabama's two College Football Playoff National Championships in 2015 and 2017.

NFL Career

Allen was drafted by the Washington Commanders with the 17th overall pick in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He quickly became a starter on the Commanders' defensive line and has been a key contributor to the team's success.

2017 Season

As a rookie, Allen started 12 games and recorded 36 tackles, 2 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.

2018 Season

In his second season, Allen started 16 games and recorded 44 tackles, 8 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. He was named to the Pro Bowl.

2019 Season

In 2019, Allen started 16 games and recorded 54 tackles, 10 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles. He was named to the Pro Bowl and the All-Pro Second Team.

2020 Season

In 2020, Allen started 16 games and recorded 43 tackles, 7 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles. He was named to the All-Pro Second Team.

2021 Season

In 2021, Allen started 17 games and recorded 65 tackles, 9 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles. He was named to the Pro Bowl.

2022 Season

In 2022, Allen started 17 games and recorded 66 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles. He was named to the Pro Bowl.

Career Highlights

• 2x Pro Bowl Selection (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022)
• 2x All-Pro Second Team Selection (2019, 2020)
• PFWA All-Rookie Team Selection (2017)
• College Football Playoff National Champion (2015, 2017)
• Alabama's Class 3A Defensive Player of the Year (2013)

Personal Life

Jonathan Allen is married to Cristin Smith, a former college basketball player. The couple has one daughter, Aria.

Additional Information

• Height: 6'3" (1.91 m)
• Weight: 291 lbs (132 kg)
• Position: Defensive Tackle
• Team: Washington Commanders
• Draft: 17th overall pick, first round, 2017 NFL Draft
• College: University of Alabama

Conclusion

Jonathan Allen is one of the most talented defensive tackles in the NFL. He has been a key contributor to the success of the Washington Commanders and has been named to the Pro Bowl four times. Allen is a rising star in the NFL and is expected to continue to be a force on the defensive line for years to come.

How to Improve Your Defensive Tackle Skills

If you want to improve your defensive tackle skills, there are a few things you can do.

• Focus on technique. The most important thing for a defensive tackle is to have good technique. This means understanding how to use your hands, feet, and body to create leverage and power.
• Get stronger. Defensive tackles need to be strong in order to be able to move offensive linemen and create disruption. You can improve your strength by doing exercises such as squats, deadlifts, and bench press.
• Improve your quickness. Quickness is important for defensive tackles because it allows you to get off the ball quickly and make plays. You can improve your quickness by doing drills such as plyometrics and ladder drills.
• Practice. The best way to improve your defensive tackle skills is to practice. You can practice with your team, with a coach, or even by yourself. The more you practice, the better you will become.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

There are a few common mistakes that defensive tackles make.

• Not using proper technique. This is the most common mistake that defensive tackles make. If you do not use proper technique, you will not be able to create leverage and power, and you will not be able to be an effective defensive tackle.
• Not being strong enough. Defensive tackles need to be strong in order to be able to move offensive linemen and create disruption. If you are not strong enough, you will not be able to be an effective defensive tackle.
• Not being quick enough. Quickness is important for defensive tackles because it allows you to get off the ball quickly and make plays. If you are not quick enough, you will not be able to be an effective defensive tackle.
• Not practicing enough. The best way to improve your defensive tackle skills is to practice. If you do not practice, you will not be able to get better.

Stories and What We Learn

Here are a few stories about Jonathan Allen and what we can learn from them.

Story 1: Jonathan Allen was drafted by the Washington Commanders with the 17th overall pick in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He was the highest-drafted defensive tackle in the draft.

What we can learn: It is important to work hard and achieve your goals. If you work hard, you can achieve anything you set your mind to.

Story 2: Jonathan Allen was named to the Pro Bowl in 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022. He is one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL.

What we can learn: If you work hard and achieve your goals, you can be successful at anything you do.

Story 3: Jonathan Allen is a role model for young people. He shows that it is possible to achieve anything you set your mind to, no matter where you come from.

What we can learn: It is important to have role models in your life. Role models can help you stay motivated and achieve your goals.

Tips and Tricks

Here are a few tips and tricks for defensive tackles.

• Use your hands to create leverage. Your hands are your most important tools as a defensive tackle. Use them to create leverage and power when you are trying to move an offensive lineman.
• Get off the ball quickly. The quicker you get off the ball, the more likely you are to make a play. Practice getting off the ball quickly with drills such as plyometrics and ladder drills.
• Be aggressive. Defensive tackles need to be aggressive in order to be successful. Be aggressive when you are trying to move an offensive lineman and when you are trying to make a tackle.
• Never give up. There will be times when you are facing a bigger, stronger opponent. Never give up, no matter how hard it gets. If you keep fighting, you will eventually be successful.

Tables

Table 1: Jonathan Allen's NFL Statistics

Table 2: Jonathan Allen's Pro Bowl Selections

| Year |
|---|---|
| 2018 |
| 2019 |
| 2021 |
| 2022 |

Table 3: Jonathan Allen's All-Pro Selections