For the Alabama fans who wrote down their impactful defensive players in the preseason, not too many people had Christopher Allen at outside linebacker in the mix.
After recording a good freshman campaign in 2017, a serious knee injury over the summer held him out for 2018.
Despite the Baton Rouge (La.) native returning a year later, Allen struggled to win the edge against the run and his speed to pressure quarterbacks was not there. He was not fully at 100 percent, but that has changed with his efforts this season.
Once a four-star in the 2017 signing class, Allen has become the unsung leader for the Crimson Tide as an edge rusher.