Zach Allen: From Boston College Star To NFL Defensive Powerhouse
Discover the journey of Zach Allen, from his standout college days at Boston College to becoming a top defensive force in the NFL. Get complete details on his rise, stats, and career highlights.
Jul 23, 202544.8K Shares701.1K Views
Zachary William-Jacob Allen was born on August 20, 1997, in New Canaan, Connecticut, where he grew up in a close-knit community with strong focus on both academics and sports. He attended New Canaan High School, where he played for the Rams football team. During his senior year in 2014, he helped lead his team to a second straight state championship and set school records with 13.5 sacks that season and 33 career sacks. He also recorded 102 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, two interceptions, seven forced fumbles, 12 pass breakups, and scored one defensive touchdown. His excellence earned him titles such as Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year, New Haven Register Player of the Year, and finalist for the USA Today All‑USA Connecticut team. He was named to the Walter Camp All‑Connecticut High School Team and honored as a National Football Foundation National High School Scholar‑Athlete. Academically, he was a National Honor Society member and made the high honor roll all four years.
Zach chose to attend Boston College, enrolling in fall 2015 and majoring in finance in the Carroll School of Management. He received the Cecilia B. and Richard J. Canning Athletic Scholarship and earned the Athletic Director’s Award for Academic Achievement as a freshman. At college, he continued to stand out in the classroom while pursuing a strong football career.
College Career
Zach Allenplayed football at Boston College from 2015 to 2018, appearing in 50 games over four seasons and making 199 total tackles, including 106 solo stops, and recording 18.5 sacks with 115 yards lost for opponents.
As a freshman in 2015, he played all 12 games, mainly on special teams but also took 46 snaps at defensive end, and made his first tackle in the season opener.
In 2016, he saw more action, appearing in 13 games (including the Quick Lane Bowl) and even starting once. That year, he made 36 tackles, had 6 sacks, recovered 2 fumbles, and deflected 4 passes. In the bowl game, he recorded 2 sacks for a total loss of 15 yards.
During the 2017 season, he became a full-time starter at defensive end, playing all 13 games, and had a standout year: 100 tackles (47 solo), 15.5 tackles for loss, and 6 sacks. He also picked off one pass, deflected three, and earned the Bulger Lowe Award as New England’s best football player.
In his senior season (2018), he started all 12 games, making 61 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks. He also had 8 passes defended, one interception, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and blocked two kicks. He was named second-team All-ACC that year.
Over the full college stretch, Zach Allen showed steady growth each year, turning from a part-time player into a top defensive end. His strong play in tackles, sacks, turnovers, and key defensive moments earned him conference recognition and set the stage for his NFL Draft selection in 2019.
Professional Career
Zach Allen was picked by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round (65th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft. He started his rookie season as a defensive end, but after four games suffering a neck injury, he missed six weeks and was placed on injured reserve. In 2020, he earned his first NFL sack and ended the season with 2 sacks, 35 tackles, and 3 passes defended, though he missed time due to another injury.
In 2021, Allen became a full-time starter. He played 15 games, made 48 total tackles, recorded 4 sacks, recovered 3 fumbles, and even had an interception returned for 25 yards. In 2022, Allen had his best season yet with the Cardinals, he played 13 games, posted 5.5 sacks, 47 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 20 quarterback hits, and 8 passes defended.
In March 2023, Allen signed a three-year, $45.75 million contract with the Denver Broncos, including $32.5 million guaranteed. His first season in Denver (2023) was strong: he played 17 games, started all of them, and recorded 5 sacks, 60 total tackles, 1 forced fumble, and 1 pass defended.
His 2024 season saw Allen reach new levels: in 16 games, he made 61 tackles (32 solo), recorded 8.5 sacks, forced a safety, and tallied 15 tackles for loss. He was named second-team All-Pro by the Associated Press and ranked No. 90 on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2025 list. He also led all interior linemen with 67 quarterback pressures that year.
Across his first six NFL seasons, Allen played in 78 regular-season games, starting 68, tallying 259 total tackles, 25 sacks, one interception, 17 passes defended, three fumble recoveries, and scored one defensive touchdown. He became the first Broncos defensive lineman named All-Pro since 2001 and the eighth in team history to earn that honor.
Zach Allen has grown from a rotating rookie into a key player on Denver’s defensive line. His steady rise, strong production, and high rankings among his peers show he is now one of the NFL’s top interior defenders.
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