🏈 Jonathan Allen Pens His Goodbye

[bama alum]

Will definitely miss this guy!

Former Bama Star Pens Heartfelt Goodbye to Tuscaloosa

Former Bama Star Pens Heartfelt Goodbye to Tuscaloosa

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Holden Walter-Warner28 FEB 2017



Jonathan Allen has spent the past four years becoming one of the most dominant players in recent Alabama Crimson Tide memory.

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He has also spent the time developing as a person, just as most college students do.


On Tuesday, he paid back the institution he loves in a heartfelt letter in The Players' Tribune.



"I’m leaving Alabama with my head held high," Allen began the last section of his lengthy letter. "I’m leaving with dozens of brothers — guys who are going to be my brothers for life."


In the letter, Allen talked about the bond he shared with his teammates, the recruitment pitch Nick Saban used to convince him to go to Alabama ("what he did do was sit across from me … and answer every single one of my questions … and treat me like an adult"), and the emotion following the National Championship Game defeat at the hands of Clemson.


Allen, who won numerous awards this season, graduated with a degree in financial planning. He'll put it to good use as one of the top picks in the 2017 NFL Draft.

 

[UAgrad93]

I was coming here to post this. Good read!! Makes me feel damn proud to call this young man a fellow alumnus of UA!!

 

[The Corinthian]

Outstanding

 

[TUSKtimes]

The quality of the writing on these Bama articles is amazing. Why can't our local sport's sites and national sport's news get even close to some of this?

 

[RoeTied]

Allen is one of the finest men to ever suit up for the Tide. Roll Tide, Jon.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

And guys remember...he came back when he could have grabbed some nfl dollars...
Like him...hell yea...but I actually respect him more....some other JRS should learn from this...
The money will be there....the college experience is short...

 

[Bamabww]

Best of luck Jonathan.

 

[Tidestalker]

And guys remember...he came back when he could have grabbed some nfl dollars...
Like him...hell yea...but I actually respect him more....some other JRS should learn from this...
The money will be there....the college experience is short...

TO be fair - If not for the his injury (shoulder I believe), I don't even think Saban would have let him come back. He would have been a super high pick but the medicals held him up.

Regarding his writing - Extremely impressive. So well done. I remember thinking in HS that he was just light years ahead of other HS kids in maturity. Had his sh*t together early on. Must be some great parents or role models in his life.

His replacement has the same type of upbringing and outlook. D'Shawn Hand. I know he hasn't done much yet, but he's got the same type of potential. I have a lot of confidence he will make an impact because of the same character traits Allen has... Pretty impressive physically as well... Next man up!

 

[EasyTider]

His bad shoulder benefited both last year's defense and JA, IMO. I think he was 20-32 pick as junior but surely top 10 as a senior. I agree that a healthy JA, coming off a championship would have entered draft.

 

[sean]

that was one of the best things i've ever read.

got me all choked up and damn proud to be a BAMA fan.

damn, i love this team!

 

[mando]

That was outstanding. Since becoming a bama fan as far back as the late 60's I always knew something was just different about bama football. Jonathan Allen made it real and expressed what I could never put into words. Always been proud to be a bama fan. Hard not to be with character people like Jonathan associated with it. Roll Tide...

 

[musso]

Wow. From a model player, powerfully expressed, at a perfect time for the fans. Circulate far and wide!:rtrsign:

 

[alabama mike]

Outstanding read! CNS and staff should be very proud of the article this young man wrote.

 

[PhillyGirl]

I'm not crying, you're crying.