University of Georgia Athletics
Allen A ‘Glue Guy’ For Bulldogs
October 28, 2025 | Football, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
CJ Allen could have spent last weekend doing just about anything. The Georgia linebacker chose to go home to Barnesville, Ga., the small town in the middle of the state that helped shape who he is and what's important to him.
The 6-foot-1 and 235-pound redshirt junior, who is the fifth-ranked Bulldogs' leading tackler heading into Saturday's game against Florida, didn't just head home for some comfort food and quality time with family and friends. Allen went to Barnesville with a purpose: to give back to those who helped him get to where he is today.
A proud product of the Lamar County public school system, Allen made stops at the elementary, middle and high schools last Friday. And he arrived at the elementary school with a large novelty check, while there to make a real donation.
"The kids there, they show love and kind of look up to me a lot. I just wanted to show my thanks and support them, to inspire the kids behind me to keep going and chasing their dreams," Allen said Monday.
The donation to the elementary school isn't the first time Allen has given back to the people of Barnesville. He's hosted a couple of football camps, as well as participated in events to help people around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Allen wants to do something even bigger one day.
"My biggest plan is to open an after-school program, where (the children) can do research and learning after school, and just better their future as far as what they want to do after high school," he said. "I just want to help put them on the right track and give them the resources they need."
It's no surprise that earlier this month, Allen was named one of 20 semifinalists for the ninth annual Jesse Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award, which factors in performance on the field with leadership qualities. Allen is also part of the 2025 SEC Football Leadership Council and the SEC Student-Athlete Leadership Council.
Drew Bobo, Georgia's starting center, who has a locker right next to Allen's, said his teammate is a leader on and off the field.
"He sets the example for people for how to do it in the weight room, how to do it off the field," Bobo said. "He's just so dedicated to doing everything right. He just leads by example all the time, and when he has to, he leads with his voice. ... He's just a great dude to have near you, and he's a great person to talk to."
One of the greatest Georgia football players ever, linebacker Roquan Smith, was in Sanford Stadium on Oct. 18 for the Bulldogs' big game against Ole Miss. Before the kickoff, Smith was on the field to "Call the Dawgs," leading the fans in the traditional pregame cheer.
When Smith played, from 2015-17, his familiar No. 3 jersey was all over the place on Georgia's defense. There may have been Bulldog defenders before or after his time that were his equal, but Smith, the Butkus Award winner as the nation's best linebacker after his junior season, was about as good as Georgia's ever had.
Over 40 games during his three seasons, Smith totaled 252 tackles, 8.0 sacks and 19.0 tackles for loss. As a junior in 2017, he led the team with 137 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 14.0 tackles for loss and 20 QB pressures. In the NFL, first with the Chicago Bears, who drafted him eighth overall in 2018, and now with the Baltimore Ravens, Smith has been first- or second-team All-Pro five times, been to three Pro Bowls, and twice received the pro Butkus Award.
Allen is another special No. 3 leading the Bulldog defense. So far this season, he leads Georgia with 56 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and he's tied for the team lead with three sacks.
"He's a glue guy," Georgia kicker Peyton Woodring said of Allen after the Bulldogs' 43-35 win over the Rebels. "He brings us all together. He's a great leader; he leads by example, as well. It's not just talk or anything. He's a great player and a great human."
In the win over Ole Miss, Allen had a team-high 10 tackles. He also had 10 the week before, in Georgia's 20-10 victory at Auburn, and he had a career-best 11 tackles in the Bulldogs' overtime win at Tennessee on Sept. 13. Allen's 8.0 tackles per game rank second in the SEC behind only Tennessee linebacker Arion Carter's 8.7.
As a freshman in 2023, Allen played in all 14 games and started five, making 41 total tackles. Last season, he started 12 of the 14 games and was second on the team with 76 tackles. In 35 career games, Allen has 173 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, four sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception.
Looking back at the player he was as a freshman to the player he is now, Allen said the biggest difference is his confidence.
"Just believing in my ability, believing in my work that I put in throughout the week, and just trusting that," he said. "That's the biggest area where I've grown as a player, my confidence, which I think is the most important, also. Because if you don't believe in yourself, why should somebody else believe in you?"
Staff Writer
CJ Allen could have spent last weekend doing just about anything. The Georgia linebacker chose to go home to Barnesville, Ga., the small town in the middle of the state that helped shape who he is and what's important to him.
The 6-foot-1 and 235-pound redshirt junior, who is the fifth-ranked Bulldogs' leading tackler heading into Saturday's game against Florida, didn't just head home for some comfort food and quality time with family and friends. Allen went to Barnesville with a purpose: to give back to those who helped him get to where he is today.
A proud product of the Lamar County public school system, Allen made stops at the elementary, middle and high schools last Friday. And he arrived at the elementary school with a large novelty check, while there to make a real donation.
"The kids there, they show love and kind of look up to me a lot. I just wanted to show my thanks and support them, to inspire the kids behind me to keep going and chasing their dreams," Allen said Monday.
The donation to the elementary school isn't the first time Allen has given back to the people of Barnesville. He's hosted a couple of football camps, as well as participated in events to help people around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Allen wants to do something even bigger one day.
"My biggest plan is to open an after-school program, where (the children) can do research and learning after school, and just better their future as far as what they want to do after high school," he said. "I just want to help put them on the right track and give them the resources they need."
It's no surprise that earlier this month, Allen was named one of 20 semifinalists for the ninth annual Jesse Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award, which factors in performance on the field with leadership qualities. Allen is also part of the 2025 SEC Football Leadership Council and the SEC Student-Athlete Leadership Council.
Drew Bobo, Georgia's starting center, who has a locker right next to Allen's, said his teammate is a leader on and off the field.
"He sets the example for people for how to do it in the weight room, how to do it off the field," Bobo said. "He's just so dedicated to doing everything right. He just leads by example all the time, and when he has to, he leads with his voice. ... He's just a great dude to have near you, and he's a great person to talk to."
One of the greatest Georgia football players ever, linebacker Roquan Smith, was in Sanford Stadium on Oct. 18 for the Bulldogs' big game against Ole Miss. Before the kickoff, Smith was on the field to "Call the Dawgs," leading the fans in the traditional pregame cheer.
When Smith played, from 2015-17, his familiar No. 3 jersey was all over the place on Georgia's defense. There may have been Bulldog defenders before or after his time that were his equal, but Smith, the Butkus Award winner as the nation's best linebacker after his junior season, was about as good as Georgia's ever had.
Over 40 games during his three seasons, Smith totaled 252 tackles, 8.0 sacks and 19.0 tackles for loss. As a junior in 2017, he led the team with 137 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 14.0 tackles for loss and 20 QB pressures. In the NFL, first with the Chicago Bears, who drafted him eighth overall in 2018, and now with the Baltimore Ravens, Smith has been first- or second-team All-Pro five times, been to three Pro Bowls, and twice received the pro Butkus Award.
Allen is another special No. 3 leading the Bulldog defense. So far this season, he leads Georgia with 56 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and he's tied for the team lead with three sacks.
"He's a glue guy," Georgia kicker Peyton Woodring said of Allen after the Bulldogs' 43-35 win over the Rebels. "He brings us all together. He's a great leader; he leads by example, as well. It's not just talk or anything. He's a great player and a great human."
In the win over Ole Miss, Allen had a team-high 10 tackles. He also had 10 the week before, in Georgia's 20-10 victory at Auburn, and he had a career-best 11 tackles in the Bulldogs' overtime win at Tennessee on Sept. 13. Allen's 8.0 tackles per game rank second in the SEC behind only Tennessee linebacker Arion Carter's 8.7.
As a freshman in 2023, Allen played in all 14 games and started five, making 41 total tackles. Last season, he started 12 of the 14 games and was second on the team with 76 tackles. In 35 career games, Allen has 173 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, four sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception.
Looking back at the player he was as a freshman to the player he is now, Allen said the biggest difference is his confidence.
"Just believing in my ability, believing in my work that I put in throughout the week, and just trusting that," he said. "That's the biggest area where I've grown as a player, my confidence, which I think is the most important, also. Because if you don't believe in yourself, why should somebody else believe in you?"
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files.
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