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Ranking the 50 best college football players for 2016

By Connor Muldowney

Nov 7, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 30-16. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 30-16. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 14, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Jonathan Allen (93) reacts after tackling Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott (15) during the game at Davis Wade Stadium. Alabama won 31-6. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Jonathan Allen (93) reacts after tackling Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott (15) during the game at Davis Wade Stadium. Alabama won 31-6. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /

As you can gather from this list, Alabama’s defense is going to be one of the toughest in the nation yet again. Jonathan Allen is entering his senior year and he is just another one of the elite names on the Crimson Tide’s defense, ranking 17th in the nation in sacks last season.

How would an opposing quarterback ever want to go against this defense with Tim Williams blitzing from the outside linebacker position, Marlon Humphrey patrolling the defensive backfield and Allen coming right up the middle? Easy answer: no quarterback does.

Allen had a slow start to his Alabama career as he was trying to just earn a spot in the rotation behind an elite starting defensive line. He recorded 16 total tackles, three for loss and a half-sack. His sophomore campaign was much more impressive as he recorded 33 total tackles, 11.5 for loss and 5.5 sacks.

Entering his junior season as one of the best interior defensive linemen in college football, Allen lived up to the expectations. He improved on all of his numbers, recording 36 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. He was named first-team All-SEC and is gearing up for an even more dominant 2016 season.

Next: 4. Christian McCaffrey

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