By: Kipp Branch

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

Joshua (Josh) Allen is now a Jacksonville Jaguar.

The 2018 SEC Defensive Player of The year will now set up shop in the River City and wreak havoc on AFC South quarterbacks for the next decade.

Allen played his college football at the University of Kentucky and led Kentucky to its first 10-win season since 1977.

Here are Allen’s 2018 career highlights and awards to date:

2018 SEC Defensive Player of the Year

Unanimous 2018 First Team All American

Chuck Bednarik Award 2018

Lott Trophy 2018

Nagurski Trophy 2018

First Team All SEC 2018

Allen is proof that recruiting rankings and stars don’t mean anything, as one highly thought of recruiting service had Allen rated as a two-star prospect coming out of high school in New Jersey.

Jacksonville didn’t think he would there at 7. They thought he would go at 3 or 4 or 5. I absolutely love this pick. Their identity is that defense. The Jags needed an edge rusher, and Allen fell to them and they took him.

Thank you to the Oakland Raiders and New York Giants for making this happen.

Allen was a star in the best football conference in the land, where he registered 17 sacks, 51 total pressures, and 28 hurries in 2018.

He finished his career with 31.5 sacks at UK and is the all-time sack leader there. Allen declared for the NFL draft after his junior season.

Allen is listed at 6’5 and 260 pounds, and is very quick. He is equipped to be one of those special speed edge rushers that keep opposing offensive coordinators up at night.

When it comes to pass coverage, he can drop into coverage with ease and is fluid in the hips, and moves like a safety. That will be a huge plus for a Jaguar defense that took a step back in 2018. Even with the addition of Nick Foles at QB this organization’s identity is defense. Now, with the addition of Allen, the Jaguar pass rush may get back to the standard it set during the 2017 season.

Allen runs a 4.6 40 Yard dash and looks to be another Pro Bowl caliber player on a talented defense. He is a high character young man that will come in, roll up his sleeves and go to work immediately. He is a Tom Coughlin type of player that eventually will take over leadership in that locker room.

I view this selection as a culture builder in Jacksonville. Allen is a winner and a producer and talks with his shoulder pads.

As I was watching the first round unfold, I could not believe Allen didn’t go to Raiders at 4 or the Giants at 6. And when the Giants went QB at 6 I said wow Josh Allen is going to be a Jaguar.

They say the NFL is an offensive league now, but do you remember the 13-3 Super Bowl contest that just concluded? The Patriots shut down the high-powered Rams offense and held them to 3 points.

Josh Allen was the absolute best pick the Jaguars could have made. The Jaguars got the biggest steal in the first round.

Draft Grade: A+