Nov 28, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs linebacker CJ Allen (3) on the field against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

New York Giants Draft Prospect Profile: LB CJ Allen, Georgia

Originally posted on New York Giants on SI
By Nick Falato | Last updated Apr 16, 2026 8:00 AM ET

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LB CJ Allen

Height: 6’1”
Weight: 230 lbs
Class: Junior
School: Georgia
Hands: 10 ⅛”
Arm length: 31 ½”
STATS

A former four-star recruit out of Lamar County High School in Barnesville, Georgia, where he was the fourth recruit from the state and the fourth linebacker in the 2023 recruiting class.

He played both linebacker and running back in high school. His maternal grandfather was a 30 year football coach.

Allen recorded 39 STOPs in 2025 with 13 pressures and just eight missed tackles (7.8% missed tackle rate).

Allen finished his college career with 1,610 defensive snaps and 98 STOPs, with 46 pressures. He was a Consensus All-American in 2025, as well as a First-Team All-SEC selection.

Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Strengths

Good build with muscular definition
Above average athlete with good explosiveness downhill
Sufficient lateral movement skills and change of direction
Technically proficient tackler – elite tackling skills
Mirrors and stays square to target when working through trash
Solid at stacking and shedding offensive linemen
Very good run defender inside the box
Good straight line speed to get outside the box
Elite communicator with excellent Key & Diagnose skills
Incredibly smart player – earned starting role as freshman in a complicated defense
Tough Tough Tough – missed just one game after a Dr. James Andrews 2025 surgery on his meniscus
Elite practice habits and character

Weaknesses

Less than ideal size
High-cut in the hips
Tightness in his hips hinders fluidity
Sufficient Blitzer, but does not excel there
Less than ideal zone awareness and movement while operating backward
Suffered a left knee injury that required surgery (Nov. 2025) – only missed one game!

Summary

CJ Allen is an elite competitor with an ideal brain for the linebacker position. Allen is smart, fundamentally sound, disciplined, and aggressive, while possessing sufficient athletic ability and above-average speed.

Allen understands where to be, and how to optimally get there. He does a good job keeping his chest clean against climbing linemen, and is an excellent tackler. He doesn’t have difference-making athletic ability, and he’s a bit tight in his lower half, which hurts his coverage ability, but he is not a liability there.

Overall, the team that selects Allen will receive a heartbeat of the defense type of player, and one who can step in and start right away.

GRADE: 6.41

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This article first appeared on New York Giants on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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