Dakota Allen

Dakota Allen's Biography

The story of Dakota Devon Allen, the renowned American football player known as the linebacker, is one filled with ups and downs, trials and tribulations. Born on November 2, 1995, in Dallas, Texas, Allen’s journey into the world of sports began in the bustling suburb of Humble, where he nurtured his passion for football. His foray into high school football is commendable. In his stint with the Bulldogs at Summer Creek High School, Allen emerged as a distinctive personality, recording 112 tackles and grabbing three interceptions in his senior year. Consequently, he was conferred the Defensive MVP of District 19-4A, cementing his spot as a promising future star.

With excellent offers from acclaimed institutions like Oklahoma, TCU, Kansas State, and Iowa State, he chose to begin his collegiate football career at Texas Tech. After redshirting his freshman season, the second year summoned him to a challenging field, where he emerged as the Red Raiders’ second-best tackler with an impressive tally of 87 stops. However, a difficult time followed as he, along with two of his peers, faced charges of second-degree burglary, resulting in his expulsion from Texas Tech. The charges were eventually dropped after he agreed to enter a pre-trial diversionary program, but the incident marked a significant turning point in his life.

Post his dismissal from the college, Allen transferred to East Mississippi Community College, the institution that brought him under the spotlight of the Netflix documentary series Last Chance U’s second season. Despite his murky past, Allen managed to climb back onto the path of success, recording a team-leading 117 tackles with additional notable achievements.

Allen’s early triumphs on the field were mostly unacknowledged given his past—but offers from Bowling Green and Troy indicated the changing winds. Acceptance from Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and Marshall further established his growth. Despite the diversity of options, Allen returned to Texas Tech, departing from his past and focusing on a promising future.

The javelin thrower had a successful junior year in 2017. With 92 tackles, 12 for losses, and prompting six turnovers, he etched his name onto the All-Big 12 Conference by Pro Football Focus and the second-team All-Big 12 by coaches and media. His senior year followed suit, where he made a significant 73 total tackles, and was named first-team All-Big 12.

Following his collegiate accomplishments, Allen was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the seventh round (251st overall) of the 2019 NFL draft. A contract worth $2,594,288 and a signing bonus of $74,288 marked his entry into professional play. However, Allen faced several transitions, being waived and re-signing multiple times from the Rams to Oakland Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars.

During the 2020 NFL season, Allen replaced the starter Myles Jack during a match against the Cincinnati Bengals. Although he mostly appeared on special teams, he showcased his abilities with significant stats—14 tackles in all, nine of which were solo tackles.

On June 21, 2022, Allen signed with the Cleveland Browns, though he was waived soon after, he rejoined the team, this time in their practice squad. Just when it seemed his career was stabilizing, he was waived again, and it wasn’t long before the Denver Broncos signed him. However, a debilitating injury ended his season, placing him on the injured reserve list. Despite the rough journey, Allen continues to be an aspiring free agent, ready to embark on the next chapter of his sporting career.