Alabama linebacker officially declares for 2022 NFL Draft

Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Christopher Allen officially announced he will be heading to the NFL on Sunday. Allen signed with Priority Sports earlier in the week.

Allen missed most of the 2021 season, dealing with a foot injury. He was due for a full breakout season rushing the pass on the other side of Will Anderson. The Baton Rouge, LA native was only able to play in the season opener against Miami. Allen was able to record three tackles, a tackle for a loss, a sack, and a forced fumble in his one appearance.

With Allen announcing his decision on social media, the linebacker penned a letter to everyone involved with the Alabama program. He began by thanking his head coach, Nick Saban.

“Coach Saban,

I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to play football lat the University of Alabama. The moment I stepped on campus, you began teaching me lessons not only on the field, but off. The lessons you taught me are going to continue to help me be successful in playing and in life.”

Allen was originally a member of the 2017 recruiting class and was a four-star prospect according to the On3 Consensus. He was ranked the No. 5 player to come out of the state of Louisiana, an area Saban has been able to find talent out of during his Alabama tenure.

Christopher Allen, Drew Sanders leaving Alabama program

Former Alabama linebacker Drew Sanders has committed to the Arkansas Razorbacks, he announced via Twitter on Sunday. Oklahoma and Texas were the other two schools involved, with Sanders opting to stay in the SEC.

Sanders entered the transfer portal on Jan. 11, just a day after Alabama lost the national championship to Georgia. He took visits to all three schools during the week and was able to make his decision quickly.

Now, Arkansas will be getting a young pass rusher who was primed to breakout for the Crimson Tide before injuries derailed his season. Sanders replaced an injured Christopher Allen beginning with the Florida game. He recorded 24 tackles on the season with 2.5 tackles for a loss and one sack in just

Sanders was a five-star prospect on the On3 Consensus coming out of Denton Ryan High School. He ranked at No. 25 on the national level and No. 3 within his home state of Texas.

Defensive coordinator Barry Odom will now have a fun new pass rusher to unleash. He and head coach Sam Pittman have turned around the Arkansas program and will soon be ready to compete within the SEC West. Adding a player like Sanders accelerates the process.