Georgia recruit CJ Allen ready to represent home state
BARNESVILLE, Ga. (BVM) — CJ Allen grew up in Griffin, Georgia. Growing up in Bulldog country, Allen did not watch a ton of Georgia football games, but he found other ways to fall in love with the sport.
His love of the game stemmed from just playing outside with his brothers. No pads, no playbook, just the simplicity of the pass, catch and tackle aspects of the game.
Not long after discovering football, Allen was signed up as a 7-year-old and quickly realized he wanted to play for a long time.
Despite also playing basketball, football became No. 1 for Allen early on.
“There’s a lot of contact in the sport,” Allen said. “I feel comfortable on a football field and I get a lot off my mind.”
He stuck with it and got better and better. Now as a high school senior at Lamar County High School, Allen ranks as the No. 43 player in the country according to 247 Sports as well as the No. 2 linebacker.
As a high school junior last season, Allen’s 91 tackles and three interceptions pop. But he was also the team’s catalyst on the offensive side of the ball rushing for over 1,000 yards with 16 touchdowns. He was an easy decision for the Region 3-AA Player of the Year.
Allen had racked up 25 Power 5 offers before he announced his commitment to the in-state Georgia Bulldogs. Being surrounded by the school’s fans growing up, Allen now gets to represent where he comes from on a national stage.
“It was my dream to play for my home state,” Allen said. “It means a lot. My biggest accomplishment so far is probably committing to the University of Georgia. That’s been a goal of mine since I was a kid. But I still have a long ways to go. ”
Outside the pride and proximity factor, Allen felt a unique connection with the program the second he first stepped on campus for a recruiting camp.
“I wasn’t looking for an offer, I was just looking to get better,” Allen said. “Just being there, sweating in that facility, putting hard work in that facility attracted me more. Coach Schumann and coach Smart were just honest with me. It’s more than football.”
Part of the reason Allen has gotten as far as he has today is his nonstop motor on and off the field.
“I always want to get better,” Allen said. “I want to do the little things to get better to give me that edge at that next level. I like to be a student of the game and learn everything.”
But for Allen, all of his focus remains on his senior season for the Trojans and the long-term impact he is hoping to make.
“I want to leave the place better than I found it,” Allen said. “I want to make an impact on and off the field.”
