Georgia Bulldogs linebacker CJ Allen generating early buzz as a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft

The 2026 NFL Draft is still a year away, but CBS Sports is already looking ahead with early first-round projections. 

One name making the cut is Georgia Bulldogs linebacker C.J. Allen, who they have slotted near the end of Round 1 at No. 24 overall. 

24. LB CJ Allen, Georgia

Allen qualified for the Georgia state championship shot put event, in addition to running the 100- and 200-meter dashes. On the football field, he was a 4-star recruit who started 12 games for the Bulldogs last season.

Allen, a 6-foot-1 and 235-pound Barnesville native, wasted no time making a name for himself in Athens. After enrolling early in January 2023, he jumped right into the action as a true freshman, playing in all 14 games and starting five. He racked up 41 tackles (21 solo), one sack, and two tackles for loss, earning Freshman All-SEC honors along the way.

In 2024, Allen stepped into a bigger role and didn’t disappoint. He started 12 of 14 games and finished second on the team with 76 total tackles (49 solo). He also chipped in four pass breakups, one interception, which he returned for eight yards, and a career-high 10 tackles against Georgia Tech. 

Whether it was Allens' sack and eight-tackle game against Ole Miss or another eight-tackle showing versus Florida, Allen showed off his reliability and consistency all year long. Already a two-time SEC Freshman Player of the Week and one of the top young linebacker prospects in the country, he’s firmly on the NFL radar heading into 2025 and it's easy to see why.

With former Georgia products Jalon Walker and Smael Mondon moving on to the next nevel, the spotlight now shifts to CJ Allen and Raylen Wilson to take charge of Georgia’s linebacker group this fall, though all signs suggest both are more than ready for the challenge.