University of Tennessee Athletics
Jason Allen Announces His Decision to Stay at Tennessee
January 13, 2005 | Football
Jan. 13, 2005
J. Allen | Coach Fulmer on Allen
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| Jason Allen |
All-Southeastern Conference defensive back Jason Allen announced Thursday that he will stay at the University of Tennessee for his senior season and not make himself available for the NFL draft.
The Muscle Shoals, Ala., native led the SEC in tackles with 123 for a 9.5 per-game average. He became the first non-linebacker to lead the Vols in tackles since defensive team records began in 1970.
He had an outstanding junior season. He was named co-captain by his teammates as well as being a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and earning third team All-America honors by the Associated Press.
Allen also garnered the Walter Camp National IA Defensive Player of the Week following the Alabama contest when he registered 15 tackles (10 solo) with a pair of pass break ups.
He has played in 39 games in his career with 21 starts, recording 185 tackles with four interceptions and 16 pass break ups.
The following is a transcript of his announcement:
"I want to thank God for giving me the opportunity to be in this situation to consider going to the NFL or staying here at the University of Tennessee. I'd like to thank my parents, my mother, Cynthia, and my father, who couldn't be here because he had to work.
"I definitely believe they deserve the `Parents of the Year Award.' In making the decision, they didn't go either way. They told me to make the decision and, whatever it is, we'll back you 110 percent. I appreciate my parents.
"I can't say enough about Coach Fulmer, the Chief [Coach Chavis], Coach Slade and the rest of the coaching staff and how they molded me into the person and player I am. I'd like to thank those guys. We have some of the best fans in the country. Through the good and the bad, you can always depend on the Tennessee fans to be there to support you.
"While I was here at the University of Tennessee, I experienced a lot of good times and a lot of bad times. In those bad times, when adversity came, made me stronger as an individual, in my every day life and on the football field as well.
"I enjoyed college life. I met new people from different places, from California to Chicago to Hawaii and Florida. It was a great experience. I made a bunch of friends not just on the football field, but as students as well.
"As I was going through the process, I pondered and thought about it. I went back and forth. I said to myself I was an All-SEC player this year, led the SEC in tackles, was a third-team All-America and was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award. I said `Why do I need to come back to college?' I saw the money that was available, millions of dollars. I was looking at that, the awards and where I came from, and the things that could be available for me. It had a lot to do with my decision.
"Then I had to think about staying in school. I thought about my teammates. I had to think about what type of team we could have next year, offensively and defensively. The University of Tennessee was going to be an excellent football team, one of the best teams in the country, with me or without me. I said to myself that, if I stay another year, it will give me another year to develop, become a better player, make the guys around me better and become a better leader on and off the field.
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| Coach Phillip Fulmer with Jason Allen and his mother, Cynthia. |
"'I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me.' That's something I always say on the shirt under my jersey and I always believe in that. I set goals for the 2004-05 football season.
"My first goal was to have at least one interception every game, 13 interceptions. The second was to win the Jim Thorpe Award. I became a semifinalist for that. I wanted to average eight tackles per game. Moving from corner to safety boosted me a little bit. I actually averaged 9.5 tackles per game. I met that goal. Another was not to get beat on a deep ball. Another was to cause at least five fumbles. I believe I forced three fumbles. I didn't reach that goal. Another was to strip the ball from the receiver at least five times. I wanted to make at least three big plays per game. I had some big plays during the season, but felt I was capable of making more. I wanted to be able to leave or stay after my junior year. I met that goal. I was in a position where I could leave or stay.
"I wanted to be an All-America. I was a third-team All-America. I wanted to be a Top 10 pick.
"I came back yesterday and my mother said she had the impression I was leaving. She said my sister called and told her Jason was staying because he's not going to give up. He's set goals in his life and he's not going to give up on that. I told myself I'm the type person who's going to give up. I set these goals and I haven't reached those goals.
"I was talking with Coach Fulmer yesterday and said I set high expectations for myself last year and plan on doing the same thing this year, if I'm here or in the NFL. That's something my parents instilled in me growing up, to set goals high. If you don't reach them all the way, you can be satisfied with your performance.
"I have made the decision to stay here at the University of Tennessee another year. I felt like we're going to be definitely one of the best teams in the country. We can make it happen, the SEC championship and the national championship. After the SEC championship game last year, it really bothered me. I was talking to coach a little bit. He wanted to see what I was thinking about the NFL or staying.
"We talked about it and I said `coach, that's not even on my mind.' I was thinking about winning the SEC championship and when the time comes we'll talk about it. Once I decide to come back, it's all Tennessee, 110 percent. I'm not going to settle for anything less than the SEC championship and the national championship.
"That's the type mentality I'm going to have and the mentality like a virus I'm going to spread out with myself, the players, coaches, the University, and the whole state of Tennessee. That's something I know we can get done. We have the same vision and the same goals."
