Record-Breaking Allen Has a Senior Day to Remember
Josh Allen said it from the moment he announced his decision: In returning for his senior season, he wanted to leave a lasting mark on the Kentucky record book.
He picked a pretty good time to break one and tie another.
“I didn’t do it by myself,” Allen said. “I share that record with my whole defense, especially the DBs, all the hard work they put in as well. A lot of those came from coverage sacks and I just can’t thank them enough. I just thank the coaching staff and everybody because I didn’t do it do by myself.”
With his team on the ropes and in need of a big play to withstand a furious rally by Middle Tennessee, Allen – as he so often has during an incredible 2018 season – stepped up. Rushing from the right side of the UK defense on fourth and one, Allen found his way to Blue Raider quarterback Brent Stockstill.
In a single play, Allen broke Oliver Barnett’s career sacks record, tied Dennis Johnson single-season sack mark and ended a would-be game-tying drive in Kentucky territory. He took the single-season record all for himself with a sack on Middle Tennessee’s final drive to help preserve a 34-23 victory for the No. 17 Wildcats (8-3).
“I was just waiting, just being patient and it was just—finally,” said Allen, who now has 27.5 sacks for his career. “I got a burden off my shoulders and I just feel I can play now.”
Allen did it all on his Senior Day, adding to a career and season full of memories with one of his best performances to date. He set his career high with a team-leading 15 tackles to go with his two sacks in an effort that would be termed extraordinary had Allen not played at that level for most of the season. He now has 75 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 2018.
“I can’t say that I have (coached a defensive player who has had a better season),” Mark Stoops said. “I’ve had a Thorpe winner and a couple runners-up and been in the Thorpe several times. But just the way he impacts the game being a big guy, he’s really remarkable. And he’s so unselfish.”
With Middle Tennessee’s spread attack, UK struggled to create pass-rushing opportunities early for Allen. As Stoops suggested, the star linebacker didn’t blink an eye.
“I knew the time was going to come that we had to pass rush because they were going to throw the ball regardless,” Allen said. “Just keep applying pressure, stop them on first down, get quick stops and they’re going to throw the ball eventually. When they start throwing it, I know I can pass rush.”
Allen showed similar patience in making the decision that led him to stay in Lexington for another year, bypassing the chance to play in the NFL to play another year with a group he believed could have a big season. With the Cats winning eight games in the regular season for the first time since 1984 with still one game left, his belief has been rewarded.
“I can remember every day just going through coming back or leaving, just my thought process and making that last-second—to decide to come back, I knew I had something special this year,” Allen said. “I knew we had a special team and I knew we were going to do special things. I worked extremely hard for moments like this.”
He shared those moments with a class of fellow seniors who also celebrated their Senior Day and Allen was far from the only one to come up big during his final home game in a Kentucky uniform. Mike Edwards started the day with an interception he returned for a touchdown, soon following it up with a forced fumbled that helped create an early 17-0 lead.
“It doesn’t surprise me with Mike,” Stoops said. “If you look at him and as I’m out there giving those guys a hug and saying goodbye for their last game here at home, there’s some real players there and guys that have contributed quite a bit and what about Mike? I mean, he is just absolutely consistent for years. One of the better players in the league.”
C.J. Conrad, meanwhile, had four catches for 51 yards, including an 11-yard second-quarter touchdown. Miles Butler converted four extra points and a pair of field goals, including one late in the fourth quarter to extend UK’s lead to two possessions, while Chris Westry had a sack of his own on the final drive and Darius West had eight tackles.
“It means a lot to me,” Conrad said. “It means a lot to the seniors. To give a lasting impression is always good. Just to help the team in general in any way can to help the team in any way we can to win the football game. The seniors stepped up today. I’m really proud of the whole group.”
The group enjoyed an emotional pregame ceremony Saturday, with Allen introduced last. When he made it to his family, he wasted no time getting to his son, Wesley, born in January. Allen didn’t let him go until he had to return to the locker room.
“He’s going to see the pictures and just know that his dad did something special,” Allen said. “I just want him to be there with me because you never know. He might end up doing a record like that and I’m going to be out there with him.”
Who knows, maybe they will be together again on that same field.
