ALAMEDA, Calif. – The Oakland Raiders have signed free agent LB Dakota Allen, the club announced Tuesday.
Allen, a 6-foot-1, 232-pound linebacker, was originally drafted in the seventh round (251st overall) by the Los Angeles Rams in this year's NFL Draft. Allen appeared in all four exhibition contests this preseason and made one start, tallying 22 stops (13 solo) and one pass defensed. Allen was waived ahead of the regular season and signed to the team's practice squad, where he remained for the first three weeks of his rookie campaign.
A native of Dallas, Texas, Allen played collegiately at Texas Tech (2015, 2017-18) and East Mississippi Community College (2016), appearing in a total of 48 games between the two programs. He logged 379 tackles (200), 4.5 sacks, five interceptions, 16 passes defensed, two forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries over his four years in school, earning team captain honors in back-to-back years as a junior and senior. In his final season with the Red Raiders, Allen posted 73 tackles (33) after leading the program with 102 stops the previous season. Allen also helped lead the Lions to a 2016 MACJC title and 11-1 record, including a perfect 6-0 mark in MACJC play, en route to earning All-Region 23 and MACJC All-State/North First Team honors.
In a corresponding move, the Raiders have placed LB Marquel Lee on the Reserve/Injured List.
