MANHEIM, Pa. (December 15, 2014) – For the second straight year, Colorado State University-Pueblo senior defensive end Darius Allen (Pueblo, Colo.) has been honored with the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award, presented by the Manheim Touchdown Club, projected coordinator Don Harris announced Monday.
The Upshaw Award is presented annually to the top NCAA Division II junior or senior offensive or defensive lineman in the nation. Sports information directors from each of the football-playing Division II institutions comprise the voters.
As a recipient of the Gene Upshaw Award, Allen receives a trophy in the likeness of Upshaw and recognition at the Manheim Touchdown Club's annual banquet in May. The winner of the award receives an automatic invitation to participate in the East/West Shrine Game and the NFLPA All-Star Game. Both games will be played January 19, 2015.
Allen has already earned numerous awards this season, including American Football Coaches Association All-America, Beyond Sports Network All-America First Team, BSN All-Super Region Four Defensive Player of the Year, BSN All-Super Region Four First Team, Daktronics All-Super Region Four Defensive Player of the Year, Daktronics All-Region First Team, Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and All-RMAC First Team Defense.
Allen finished the regular season with nine sacks (-42 yards) to rank second in the RMAC, while his 14 tackles for loss (-54 yards) ranked fifth in the league. He totaled 43 tackles (22 solo), forced three fumbles (T-2nd in RMAC) and recovered two fumbles (T-8th in RMAC). The senior also added a pass break-up. He totaled five or more tackles six times in 2014. Allen recorded 3.5 sacks (-11 yards) at Sam Houston State University and three sacks (-21 yards) at Colorado School of Mines. He guided a ThunderWolves defense to a top 10 finish nationally in scoring defense (4th – 13.0 ppg) and team sacks (6th – 3.5 spg). Allen was named RMAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and earned RMAC Defensive Player of the Week Sept. 15.
In three postseason games, Allen has five sacks, eight tackles for loss, forced two fumbles, recovered a fumble and totaled 21 tackles (14 solo).
Allen is only the second player to be a two-time winner of the Gene Upshaw Award, joining Grand Valley State's Mike McFadden, who won the award in 2005 and 2006.
In 14 total games this season, the senior has compiled 64 tackles (36 solo) with 22 tackles for loss (-92 yards) and 14 sacks (-73 yards) to rank 12th in the nation in sacks per game (1.0 spg). He has also forced five fumbles (T-2nd most nationally) and recovered three (10th in NCAA Division II).
Allen received a first-place vote on 43 percent of the ballots. None of the other seven finalists earned more than five first-place votes. Allen's 349 points out-distanced runner-up Joe Ray, the right tackle from Lenoir-Rhyne. Minnesota State offensive tackle Chris Reed placed third, and PSAC West Defensive Player of the Year Julian Howsare of Clarion placed fourth. Tusculum defensive end Caushaud Lyons placed fifth, followed by Devin Benton of Southwestern Oklahoma State, Justin Zimmer of Ferris State and Corey Tucker of Slippery Rock.
Five of the eight finalists played for teams that reached the NCAA Division II Playoffs. Allen's ThunderWolves and Reed's Mavericks play for the NCAA Division II Championship Saturday. CSU-Pueblo won a 10-7 defensive battle against University West Georgia in the semifinal, where Allen totaled seven tackles, two sacks, three tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
"With all of the talent at the Division II level the SIDs saw fit to award Darius with this award for the second time," Don Harris said. "That speaks volumes to his ability as a football player. We would like congratulate Darius on winning the "Gene Upshaw Division II Linemen of the Year Award" for the second year in a row and look forward to seeing him in May."
"Darius has been double and triple teamed all season, but I feel he is playing better than he did last year," said CSU-Pueblo Head Coach John Wristen. "Being the Gene Upshaw Award winner last year, he has brought a lot of positive attention to our program at a national level."
Allen is the 11th recipient of the award named in honor of former Texas A&I (now Texas A&M Kingsville) University and NFL All-Pro offensive lineman Gene Upshaw. Upshaw, a 1987 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, served 25 years as the executive director of the NFL Players Association until his death in 2008.
Gene Upshaw Award finalists have achieved success at the highest level. Previous winner Brandon Fusco (Slippery Rock, 2010) as well as 2013 finalist Matt Armstrong (Grand Valley State), and 2012 finalists David Baas (Missouri Western State), Manase Foketi (West Texas A&M), Ryan Schraeder (Valdosta State) and CSU-Pueblo's Ryan Jensen (Baltimore Ravens Practice Squad) are all currently on NFL rosters.
(portions of this release courtesy of Manheim Touchdown Club)
For the complete release from Manheim, click HERE.
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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Colorado State University – Pueblo competes in 22 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
