Broncos roster review: Linebacker Jaylon Allen

Welcome back to another roster review for the Denver Broncos! This time we’ll be featuring University of Memphis linebacker/edge rusher, who was signed as a Bronco in April of 2024.

Following the 2024 NFL Draft, Allen received offers outpouring from the Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Las Vegas Raiders. Ultimately, he landed on the Broncos, where he would be playing for Vance Joseph — the older brother of his assistant strength and conditioning coach from Memphis, Sammy Joseph.

Profile:

Hometown: Humble, TX
College: Memphis
Height: 6’3
Weight: 240 lbs
Hands: 9 ³⁄₄
Arms: 32 ¹⁄₄
Vertical: 34
40: 4.85

History:

Born in Humble, TX, Jaylon Allen graduated from Atascocita High School and joined the Memphis Tigers, where he put up 150 tackles (77 solo), five deflected passes, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and an interception across five years/60 games.

Some of Allen’s honors include Second-Team All-AAC and Fourth-Team All-AAC in 2023; Honorable-Mention All-AAC, Fourth-Team All-AAC Team, and AAC All-Academic Team in 2022; Tiger Club in 2021 and 2019; and AAC-All Academic Team in 2018.

One defining moment in Allen’s college career was an 85-yard fumble return touchdown, which not only sealed a winning score over Houston at halftime, but also played a pivotal role in the defensive end’s self confidence.

Pros & Cons

Perhaps one of the most obvious downsides about our edge rusher here is his lack of size. He struggles to break away from other tacklers or defend the run, but his speed and footwork are good, and he utilizes his upper body and hands to make up for his challenges. Whoever is carrying the ball will have to get through him first.

Versatility is an undeniable attribute of Allen, who has been all over the place in regard to defensive positions.

“When I was at Memphis, we had four different defensive schemes,” Allen shared with NFL Draft Diamonds, noting that he’s able to adapt to positions quickly for that reason. “I played in four eyes, I played in space, I played wheel, you know, I played different positions.”

Asked what he felt sets him apart from other prospects, Allen emphasized his grit. “I might not get it the first time I try or even the 50th time I try, but I’m not going to stop trying. I’m going to give it everything I have.”

Final Thoughts

Allen will add depth to the Broncos’ defense. He could make waves in the training camp and climb up to the 90-man roster, although it’s all to be seen given how fresh he is. Now that both he and Memphis teammate RB Blake Watson have been reunited for the Broncos’ cause, there is opportunity for the Tigers to be well represented in Denver.

One thing that strikes me about Allen is that he can identify the lowest low point of his college career, as well as how he came back from it. Before the aforementioned 85-yard scoop and score, he was reconsidering whether he should even continue playing football. That kind of self-wrestling can drive one dream chaser to give up; but for another, it can reinforce to them why they wanted that dream in the first place.

Below is an excerpt from a piece that he published with Behind the Stripes entitled “The Power of Belief.”

“When I saw the football pop loose, instincts took over. I scooped the ball up and ran as far as I could for an 85-yard touchdown.

It gave our team six points, but it gave me so much more.

That was my redshirt sophomore season at Memphis, and prior to that fumble return, I wondered if I had what it took, you know?...

Those questions of self-doubt were running through my head constantly. I had some low moments, but I never looked back after that scoop and score. It was the opportunity I was searching for and desperately needed.

A funny thing happened after that.

Not only did I become a better player because I started to believe in myself, but I became a better leader, too.”