Jonathan Allen wins first Nagurski Trophy in Alabama history

Alabama has been loaded with defensive standouts during its rich football history.

But none of them achieved what senior defensive end Jonathan Allen did on Monday night.

Allen was presented the Nagurski Trophy as the national defensive player of the year and the surprise element was this: Allen is the first player in Crimson Tide history to win a major national defensive award.

"I'm honestly speechless right now. I never in a million years thought I would even be up for this award, yet win it," Allen said at the presentation ceremony in Charlotte, N.C. "I've got to thank all the guys back at Alabama, God, my parents, my girlfriend, everyone who's had a part in shaping me and making me who I am. This is just a tremendous award."

The 6-foot-3, 291-pound Allen enjoyed a tremendous season with 8 1/2 sacks and two fumble returns for touchdowns for the Crimson Tide, who lead the nation in scoring defense (11.8 points per game) and total defense (247.8 yards per game).

He ranks second in Alabama history with 26 1/2 career sacks, trailing only school legend Derrick Thomas, the linebacker who went on to a Pro Football Hall of Fame career with the Kansas City Chiefs.

"Jonathan Allen is a fantastic player for us, even a better person and leader," Alabama head coach Nick Saban said. "He's had an outstanding year. I think he's sort of someone that a lot of players should look at who came here weighing probably 250 pounds. We kind of recruited him as an outside linebacker.

"The guy has developed each and every year into being a better and better and better player. I think sometimes a lot of players lose sight of how football is a developmental game, how they improve, how they can improve their value by continuing to grow and develop as players in college. Jonathan Allen is a great example of that."

Allen is considered a top five NFL draft choice in the 2017 draft with the possibility he could go first overall.

The other Nagurski finalists included Allen's teammate -- outside linebacker Reuben Foster. The others were Michigan outside linebacker Jabrill Peppers, Clemson defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and Florida State cornerback Tarvarus McFadden.

Foster didn't go home without hardware. He won the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker.

Alabama has had a Nagurski finalist seven times in the past eight years.