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Tennessee football’s top 10 injury concerns for 2020

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 15: Defensive back Baylen Buchanan #28 of the Tennessee Volunteers between plays during the game between the UTEP Miners and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 24-0. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 15: Defensive back Baylen Buchanan #28 of the Tennessee Volunteers between plays during the game between the UTEP Miners and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 24-0. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images
Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images /

player. 839. Pick Analysis. Redshirt Senior. Jordan Allen. 6. Scouting Report. Tight End

Once a junior college transfer edge rusher from California, Jordan Allen was a four-star in Tennessee football’s first recruiting class under Jeremy Pruitt. Playing for UC Davis in 2016 and City College of San Francisco in 2017, Allen appeared to have proven himself as an elite prospect, and the product of Armijo High School in Fairfield, Calif. entered UT with a lot of hype.

After appearing in nine games as a reserve outside linebacker, expectations were for him to potentially thrive last year. However, he then revealed that he had a hip flexer injury. That injury was nagging and kept him out of play all season, which was probably a reason Pruitt lamented the lack of depth when it came to edge rushers in numerous interviews last year.

Well, Allen missed the whole season and has now spent time converting to tight end. With the departure of Dominick Wood-Anderson, UT clearly needs help there. Austin Pope is more of a blocking tight end, and Allen could provide some real help at 6’4″ 241 pounds. However, will he be in the right shape for a smooth conversion?

A pandemic hitting to shut down spring practice and limit workouts probably put a huge damper on that. Allen’s transition to another position could hinder his focus on getting back into football shape, which does make him an injury concern heading into his senior year. UT could definitely use him given the unknowns at tight end, so they desperately need him to be healthy this year.

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