How Germantown basketball player became football prospect
DJ Allen remembers his first varsity football game as a sophomore. On the very first play against Arlington, Allen got a sack.
“Ever since then, I just fell in love with the game,” Allen said.
That began the trajectory he’s on now and ignited the love he now has for football. If it weren’t for that one play and a new interest in football, Allen said he’s not sure what his athletic future would hold.
The 6-foot-3, 218-pound Allen grew up solely focused on basketball. Colleges are now interested in has football skills. He’s listed as a 3-star edge rusher in the 247Sports Composite for the Class of 2024.
“I felt like the decision I made was a great decision,” Allen said. “... Football has really opened everything up.”
His breakout junior season made him one of the top defensive lineman prospects in the Memphis area. In just the last month, Allen has received offers from Miami (Ohio), UNLV, North Alabama, Tennessee Tech, Arkansas State, Arkansas-pine Bluff, Temple and Middle Tennessee State.
“We knew he was ready for a breakout year,” Robinson said of Allen’s dominant junior season. “It started slow but he heated up as the season went on.”
One reason for his success in the 2022 season was the attention teams put on Daniel Anderson, the Red Devils’ other dominant defensive lineman. Anderson saw double teams throughout the season, freeing up Allen for a lot of 1-on-1 looks with tackles as an edge rusher.
Allen totaled 42 tackles and 14 sacks in 2022.
Robinson also said simplifying the game for Allen helped him quickly understand how to be an effective edge rusher. He saw the potential Allen had with his length and speed from being a basketball player.
And what he did this season is just the beginning of what he can do for Germantown’s defense, which finished as one of the area’s best last season, en route to the 6A state quarterfinals.
“With a talented defense like that, it just could be anybody’s night when you just have to win your matchup,” Robinson said.
Now Allen will be asked to do it again with more college coaches expected to be watching.
“I knew hard I was working. I deserved it. It wasn’t a fluke,” Allen added.
Reach Wynston Wilcox at wwilcox@gannett.com and on Twitter @wynstonw__.