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Name: Zach Allen
Position: Defensive End
Number: 2
Year: Junior
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 272
Hometown: New Canaan, Connecticut
High School: New Canaan High School
2016 Stats: Appeared in all 13 games for the Eagles, including the Quick Lane Bowl where he was a part of the defensive line named Bowl MVP. He had two sacks in that game. Last season, he recorded 38 tackles (10 for loss), 6 sacks (5 solo), and recovered 2 fumbles. He recorded 4 pass deflections as well.
Projections: By all indications, Allen should succeed Kevin Kavalec on the outside and will be the unquestioned starter opposite Harold Landry. With Landry drawing double teams, he could have a breakout year a la Landry last year. It really depends on if he makes the jump everyone expects of him, as well as the progression of Wyatt Ray, who could push him for play time.
Over/Under: It might be lofty, but I’d say 9 sacks. We’re trying to be optimistic here at BCI.
How’d He Get Here: Allen was the Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year who flipped to BC after committing to Northwestern initially. He also had quite an offer sheet, choosing the Eagles over Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Princeton, Cornell, Virginia, UConn, in addition to the Wildcats. Read more about it here!
Here’s his senior year HUDL
Quotables from ‘Daz: "I think you got to be real excited about our pass rush right now. You have Harold Landry coming back... Then you add in the fact that you have guys like Zach Allen, who I think is a phenomenal potential guy (and) Wyatt Ray, Ray Smith. A year ago we thought Harold had potential, but we didn't know where he would be. Now we're looking back saying he led the country in sacks. When you have three of those guys, you can't start scheming with one of those guys. We're excited about that." - Addazio at the beginning of this year’s spring practices.
Twitter: @TheZALLEN44
Don’t confuse him with the Rutger’s quarterback, also named Zach Allen, who keeps getting injured and tore his ACL earlier this spring, or Southern California PGA Teacher of the Year Zach Allen, who hosts informational golf videos on youtube.