April 30, 2011
Running back Anthony Allen, who rushed for nearly 2,000 yards in two seasons at Georgia Tech and earned first team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors in 2010, was selected in the seventh round of the NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens.
Allen played in the Senior Bowl and participated in the NFL Combine after rushing for 1,316 yards as a senior in 2010.
Saturday, however, was an extremely long day for a player who had expectations of being drafted higher. He was the 225th player selected overall.
How did the process weigh on Allen? “The day started slowly, but finished strong,” an elated Allen joked Saturday evening. “Seriously, it was a long day, but I had faith, and I couldn’t be happier about the place I’m going. The Baltimore Ravens are a great organization.”
Baltimore has a history of drafting Georgia Tech players. In 2006, the Ravens drafted both former Yellow Jackets, running back P.J. Daniels and safety Dawan Landry. Since 2000, no NFL team has drafted more Georgia Tech players than Baltimore. The Baltimore organization also drafted former Jacket linebacker Ron Rogers in 1998.
Several former Yellow Jackets will now hope to sign NFL free agent contracts, including defensive backs Jerrard Tarrant, Mario Butler and Mario Edwards, as well as others. That won’t happen until the NFL lockout situation is cleared up.
Updating Georgia Tech’s NFL draft history:
— Allen is the third Georgia Tech running back drafted since 2008, joining Tashard Choice (2008 by the Cowboys) and Jonathan Dwyer (2010 by Pittsburgh).
— The previous time Baltimore selected a Yellow Jacket player was running back P.J. Daniels in 2006.
— Georgia Tech had its fewest number of players drafted since no Yellow Jackets were taken in 2005.
— Over the last six drafts combined, 17 Yellow Jackets have been selected. Over the last three drafts, nine Jackets have been drafted.
— In the overall history of the draft, Allen is the 205th Yellow Jacket to be selected.
— There were 24 former Tech players on NFl rosters at the close of the 2010 season.
