Alabama Football DE Jonathan Allen Wins Nagurski Trophy
By David Wasson
One of Alabama football’s defensive leaders, DL Jonathan Allen has recorded 52 tackles to rank fourth on the team, including 11.5 tackles for loss.
Alabama senior defensive lineman Jonathan Allen won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Monday, signifying the nation’s most outstanding defensive player.
The Nagurski Trophy is awarded by the Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte (N.C.) Touchdown Club. Allen is the first Alabama player to win the Nagurski Trophy.
One of the Tide’s defensive leaders, Allen has recorded 52 tackles to rank fourth on the team, including 11.5 tackles for loss (-64 yards) while also registering two pass breakups and a blocked field goal. The defensive lineman has returned a team-high two fumble recoveries for 105 yards and two scores.
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A feared pass rusher, Allen ranks 10th in the Southeastern Conference with seven sacks (-55 yards) and has a team-high 13 quarterback hurries this season. He is tied for second on the Alabama career sacks list with 25 and ranks fifth in tackles for loss (40.5).
Alabama Crimson Tide
Allen highlights an Alabama defense that leads the nation in scoring, total defense and rush defense, while ranking sixth in sacks and eighth in pass efficiency defense.
Allen and Foster were joined by defensive back Tarvarus McFadden (Florida State), linebacker/defensive back Jabrill Peppers (Michigan) and defensive tackle Christian Wilkins (Clemson) as finalists for this year’s Nagurski Trophy. The award is named after the legendary Bronko Nagurski, who dominated college football at the University of Minnesota as a bruising fullback and defensive tackle from 1927-29.
This was Alabama’s sixth consecutive season, and the eighth season in the last nine, with at least one finalist for the award. The previous Crimson Tide players to be named finalists include: Reggie Ragland (2015), Landon Collins (2014), C.J. Mosley (2013), Dee Milliner (2012), Mark Barron (2011), Terrence Cody (2009) and Rashad Johnson (2008).
In addition to the Hendricks, Allen is also a finalist for the Hendricks Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, the Lott IMPACT Trophy, and the Chuck Bednarik award.
Allen and the Alabama Crimson Tide are the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoffs, and will face the No. 4 Washington Huskies in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga., on Saturday, Dec. 31.
The Crimson Tide and Huskies have met four times previously, with the most recent contest coming in the 1986 Sun Bowl when the Crimson Tide defeated the Huskies, 28-6, to cap off a 9-3 season.
The winner of the matchup between the Crimson Tide and the Huskies will meet the winner of the game matching the No. 2 Clemson Tigers and the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes, who will play in the other CFP Semifinal Game at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz. The 2017 CFP National Championship Game is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
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Alabama, making its 65th appearance in a postseason game, has played in more bowl games and earned more postseason victories than any school in college football history. Alabama is making a postseason appearance for the 10th consecutive season under head coach Nick Saban and the 13th straight season overall for the school.