2012 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Clemson Tigers TE Dwayne Allen Has Tools to be Elite in NFL (Video)

Sunday, February 19, 2012

ClemsonTigers.com

By Bob Evans
Senior Writer

Junior tight end Dwayne Allen didn’t stuff the stat sheet during his three years at Clemson, but the 6’4” and 255 pound, soon to be 22-year-old has scouts raving about his potential to be an elite NFL pass catcher.

Names like Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates have been tossed around when making an NFL comparison for Allen, thanks to his soft hands and ability to make plays happen after the catch. The Tigers offense wasn’t designed to feature a pass-catching tight end, yet he still racked up 93 catches for 1,079 yards and 12 touchdowns during his time at Clemson.

The majority of those yards came in 2011, as Allen grabbed 50 receptions for 598 yards and eight touchdowns as the third option in the Tigers’ passing game. While quarterback Tajh Boyd preferred to hit freshman Sammy Watkins and sophomore DeAndre Hopkins first in their high-octane offense, it was Allen who ended up finding holes in the zone and underneath coverage.

He was able to find those holes because of his excellent route running abilities and high football IQ. Allen may not have elite level speed, but he makes up for it by picking up yards after the catch and fighting until the whistle blows. He also has a knack for making big-plays in the open field, and thanks to his 6’4” frame, it is hard for quarterbacks to miss this massive target.

One thing NFL coaches will love about Allen is his ability to separate from defenders. Most tight ends have difficulty separating from safeties and cornerbacks, but Allen does not experience these problems. He utilizes his big body and excellent route-running skills to get away from any type of defender.

Allen can do much more than catch on offense though. He is an above-average blocker who fights any defender he is asked to block. He is not an elite blocker however, evidenced by the fact that he can be beaten by bigger, stronger defenders. But you will never see him give up on a play, as he was one of the hardest working players on Clemson's roster in 2011.

With the NFL Scouting Combine just around the corner, Allen can only help his draft stock with an excellent performance. If he can improve on his 4.76 40-yard dash time, he should easily emerge as the No. 1 tight end prospect over Stanford’s Coby Fleener and Georgia’s Orson Charles.

Right now, Allen is expected to be drafted somewhere between the end of the first and middle of the second round. With the pass-catching tight end becoming more and more important in the evolving pass game in the NFL, a player with Allen’s skill set will not last long come the 2012 NFL Draft.






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