ACQUIRED: Selected in fourth round, 35th overall, of 2020 CFL Draft; signed by Roughriders in January 2021.

YEARS WITH ROUGHRIDERS: 4

YEARS IN CFL: 4

2025: Signed one-year contract extension, Jan. 9 … second CFL start, June 14 at Hamilton; registered pass knockdown on third down with 12 seconds left to seal Roughriders win … first CFL sack, June 20 at Toronto … career-high seven defensive tackles, June 28 vs. B.C. … second CFL interception, July 12 vs. Calgary … five defensive tackles and two pass knockdowns, July 19 at B.C. … five defensive tackles and a sack, July 25 vs. Edmonton … seven defensive tackles and a sack, Aug. 16 vs. Hamilton … interception and five defensive tackles, Oct. 3 at Ottawa … one interception, one sack and seven defensive tackles, Oct. 10 vs. Toronto … career-high nine defensive tackles, Oct. 17 at Winnipeg … named Roughriders’ Most Outstanding Canadian, Oct. 22 … sacked Nathan Rourke on second-and-three to force a punt late in Western Final vs. B.C. Roughriders then marched 76 yards in seven plays for the winning touchdown.

2024: Three special teams tackles at B.C. on July 13 … 48-yard interception-return TD, Oct. 12 vs. B.C. … Finished regular season with 22 special teams tackles — tying him with Toronto’s Jack Cassar for the league lead. Allen became the first Roughrider to lead the league in that category since Walter Spencer was a co-leader with 29 tackles in 2005.

2023: In 18 games, Allen recorded a career-high 19 special teams tackles and added 19 stops on defence. Beginning in Week 2, he registered four consecutive multi-tackle games on special teams.

PRO: Signed with the Roughriders in January 2021 before returning to school for his fifth year of U Sports eligibility. As a CFL rookie in 2022, he saw action in 12 games, recording six defensive tackles and six special teams tackles. In Week 15 against the Edmonton Elks, Allen blocked a punt, a feat that was only accomplished by six players in the CFL in 2022.

COLLEGE: Capped a stellar collegiate career at Guelph by receiving the President’s Award as the OUA’s Most Outstanding Stand-Up Defensive Player and being named an All-Canadian and OUA All-Star. In seven games played in 2021, he recorded 58 total tackles (29 solo, 29 assisted), six tackles for a loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles. He registered 63.5 defensive tackles (12 for a loss), 5.5 sacks, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries over the previous four seasons.

FAST FACT: Allen and Guelph Gryphons teammate Kian Schaffer-Baker were chosen five picks apart in the 2020 CFL Draft. Allen (35th overall) and Schaffer-Baker (40th) were both fourth-round choices by Saskatchewan.

MEDIA

• June 30, 2023: “My angels are my protectors”: Roughriders’ A.J. Allen remembers his friend, Kyle Coleman
• Sept. 27, 2023: Roughriders’ A.J. Allen has 20-20 foresight
• July 10, 2024: A.J. Allen does it all — and earns a game ball!
• Oct. 1, 2024: Rob Vanstone: “Small turns into big pretty quick”
• VIDEO: Oct. 12, 2024 post-game
• Oct. 15, 2024: A.J. Allen ignited Riders’ resounding win with quick pick-six
• Oct. 30, 2024: A.J. Allen earns A-Plus for special teams tackles title
• Jan. 9, 2025: 2024 CFL special teams tackles co-leader A.J. Allen signs new contract
• Jan. 17, 2025: Multi-faceted life is A-OK with Roughriders’ A.J. Allen
• VIDEO: June 11, 2025 interview
• June 11, 2025: A.J.’s “army” ready to invade Hamilton Stadium
• VIDEO: June 20, 2025 post-game
• VIDEO: July 17, 2025 interview
• July 17, 2025: Fast interceptions come to pass for A.J. Allen
• July 18, 2025: Allen and Ouellette have connections to Lions QB Nathan Rourke
• VIDEO: Oct. 10, 2025 interview
• Oct. 16, 2025: A.J. Allen is living his best life and having his best year
• Oct. 22, 2025: Harris, Allen among Roughriders’ 2025 player award nominees
• VIDEO: Oct. 22, 2025 interview
• VIDEO: Nov. 11, 2025 Grey Cup media availability
• Nov. 11, 2025: A.J. Allen sparkles on Canada’s biggest football stage