The Arkansas Razorbacks just added some serious length and pass-rushing potential to their defensive front. J’Lynn Allen, a 6-foot-7, 245-pound edge rusher out of Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, has officially signed with the Hogs after an official visit to Fayetteville over the weekend.
Allen, a North Little Rock native, brings both local ties and high-upside talent to a Razorbacks defense looking to reload. He picked Arkansas over a long list of offers, including West Virginia, Southern Miss, Arkansas State, Louisiana-Monroe, Eastern Michigan, Sam Houston State, and Georgia State, among others. The interest wasn’t surprising - Allen’s tape and stats from his redshirt freshman season at Hutchinson tell the story of a disruptive, high-motor defender who made life miserable for opposing offenses.
In 2025, Allen racked up 31 tackles, 10 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, two pass breakups and even got his hands on two kicks. That kind of production at the JUCO level doesn’t go unnoticed, especially when it’s paired with his rare physical frame. At 6-7, he’s got the wingspan to affect passing lanes and the flexibility to bend the edge - traits that SEC defensive coordinators covet.
Former North Little Rock head coach Randy Sandefur, who coached Allen in high school, didn’t hold back when talking about what makes his former player stand out.
“He's really a long and flexible guy,” Sandefur said. “He has a high, high motor.
He has a great get-off and runs to the ball. He runs really well and is aggressive.
Last but not least, he is a coachable player.”
That combination - size, motor, and coachability - is exactly what Arkansas needs as it works to fortify its defensive line rotation. Allen is expected to graduate from Hutchinson this spring and enroll at Arkansas this summer, giving him a full offseason to get acclimated to SEC speed and strength. He’ll arrive with three years of eligibility, giving the Razorbacks plenty of time to develop him into a key contributor.
There’s also a familiar face waiting for Allen in Fayetteville. He’ll reunite with senior defensive end Quincy Rhodes, a fellow North Little Rock alum. That shared history could help ease the transition and add another layer of chemistry to the defensive line room.
For Arkansas, this is more than just a signing - it’s a strategic pickup. Allen has the tools to be a difference-maker off the edge, and with three years to grow in the program, the ceiling is high. The Razorbacks are betting on his upside, and if his JUCO production is any indication, it’s a bet that could pay off in a big way.