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Sept. 5 (UPI) -- Josh Allen galloped around the Miami Dolphins' offensive line like it was standing still. He weaved through the giant men tasked with protecting their quarterback and consistently impacted throws and disrupted plays. He said that's why the Jacksonville Jaguars selected him with the No. 7 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
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"They brought me here to do one thing: To make plays," Allen told UPI after the Week 3 preseason game. "I know that. Playing with the starters, with everybody out there ... I felt free.
"I felt like I could just do what I need to do. I was just doing what they brought me here to do."
Allen always has been a dynamic athlete. He transformed from an All-State wide receiver in high school into the nation's top college defender during his final season at Kentucky. Now, he is part of a loaded Jaguars defense two years removed from a run to the AFC Championship game.
"That's what we drafted him for and that's what we got," Jaguars linebacker Myles Jack said. "He's a hell of a talent. Just how athletic he is."
Allen had his fair share of sacks and tackles in college, but he is still hunting for his first NFL quarterback takedown. He said the near-sacks he had in the preseason are the plays he remembers. He uses them as motivation for his next punishing pursuit.
Jalen Ramsey is one of Allen's All-Pro teammates. The star defender is widely recognized as one of the league's best cornerbacks. He also has a great view of Allen as he stalks opposing passers.
"He is playing well and working really hard," Ramsey said. "We already had a really good defensive line. He has learned from them. He has come in and meshed well with them.
"He plays with a lot of heart and energy and he's having fun."
Despite his history of comparing and rating the league's quarterbacks, Ramsey doesn't name another player when asked for a comparison to Allen.
"He's his own man," Ramsey said.
Jaguars defensive lineman Calais Campbell has dominated opposing offensive lines throughout his career. The 2017 All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler is one of several players who have mentored Allen during his short time with the Jaguars.
Like Campbell, Allen boasts elite size and explosiveness. Scouts said the Kentucky product needed to improve on his hand-work and diversify his pass-rush approach during the NFL Draft process. But Allen has plenty of star defenders from whom to learn.
"Everybody is already putting in their two cents with me," Allen said. "I'm just soaking up all the knowledge. They are used to winning. I'm just making plays."
Campbell had a long discussion with Allen before their final preseason game together. He helped Allen focus on his personal game plan and how he could accomplish his objectives against the Dolphins. Allen said the preseason games felt like practice for him. He knew where Campbell would be at all times and Campbell could anticipate Allen's presence, as well.
"I wanted to see how he was going to respond when somebody challenged him and he responded very well, as you see. That was incredible," Campbell said of Allen's performance against the Dolphins.
"He was lights out. He was big in the run game, he was big in the pass game. He had a couple big tackles for loss, but he also was getting to the quarterback. He missed a couple sacks, so we're going to have to get him on that, but he's a baller."
Humility comes naturally for Allen. He recognizes he is part of a loaded defensive unit and he says he hopes to help his teammates earn new contracts.
"I'm not even talking about the linebackers or the defensive backs. I'm just talking about the front four right now, Calais, Yannick Ngakoue, Marcel Dareus and Abry Jones.
"I feel like that's an unbelievable group right there. Me being the young buck on the block, I'm just doing what I need to do to help those guys get paid."
Allen will have a great test in his official NFL debut: the Kansas City Chiefs. It will be strength versus strength as reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes leads the one of the league's most-potent offenses against the Jaguars' cast of star defenders, which now includes the Wildcat-turned-Jaguar clawing for an NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
"He's been outstanding all camp, he really has," Jaguars coach Doug Marrone said. "He's made plays -- he's a humble guy. And then to see him out here and really light up and play the game, there's no telling what type of year this guy can have."
The Jaguars host the Chiefs at 1 p.m. EDT Sunday in Jacksonville.
