#3 returning tackler in Minnesota.

Uncommitted 2028.

2025 stats: 114 tackles, 5 TFLs, 4 sacks, 2 FF.

We just broke down Allen’s junior tape and athletic profile in depth for a recent piece on the next Minnesota prospects in line to earn their first D1 offer. An All-State wrestler and the Next Great Recruit out of Caledonia, Cooper Allen Cooper Allen 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB Caledonia | 2028 State MN is a beast on the gridiron and a massive off-ball ‘backer with a three-down skillset and a frightening combination of speed, quickness, and power at 6’3, 220ish. Smooth mobility, COD ability, and tackling skills in space, and is a monster at the contact point. Had a good showing at a Minnesota Gophers prospect camp this summer and is on a short list of potential P4 ‘backer targets out of MN in the coming cycle.

PRZMN is a big fan of Caledonia’s Cooper Allen Cooper Allen 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB Caledonia | 2028 State MN . It was a very exciting treat to be able to see Allen live and in the flesh at one of the Minnesota Gophers prospect camps in Dinkytown this past June, and at the time, we were watching the players without a roster, so we were watching Allen without realizing it at the time. It made the evaluation we have on him even more valid, as Allen was not only one of the biggest ‘backers of the talented group but also one its more fluid movers, not to mention a young 2028 competing with a significant amount of rising seniors.

I didn’t get to see him much in coverage that night in Dinkytown, but Allen checked some boxes in terms of the live eval, and it helped put into context what was a very strong offseason on the gridiron and wrestling mat for the Caledonia product. As the Warriors‘ linebacker in 2025, Allen was making plays all over the field and especially in the backfields of his opponents, as he flows to the ball cleanly, can squeeze through and shoot gaps along the LOS to cut off ball carriers, and can beat blocking attempts with either quickness or power. The updated sophomore highlights display good reps highlighting his sideline-to-sideline pursuit range, and the massive ILB does a good job of mirroring ball carriers in space. He can drop his hips and accelerate while tracking and sniffing out ball carriers working off-tackle, and he ended Caledonia’s 12 game 2025 campaign with 114 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 FFs, according to MNFootballHub, up there with the top in the state for total tackles last fall. Also was the 2025-26 215A lb. state runner-up on the wrestling mat as a testament to his toughness and multi-sport utility. Not a very active social media presence so I’m not sure who has contacted the 2028 LB prospect, but he seems like a great fit for the D1 level of college ball. FCS floor and with the addition of Caledonia’s Ethan Stendel from the 2025 class, I think he’s on a shortlist of Gopher LB targets as well, especially instate.

PRZMN was stoked to finally get an in-person look at Caledonia’s Cooper Allen. A garage freezer of a sophomore LB, Allen was light and springy on his feet for an underclassman of his size, and he was doing a good job of showing off his athleticism during drill work, where we primarily watched Allen perform at. An off-ball B1G LB obviously has to be mobile, and Allen, during the purposefully high-tempo, high-energy, nearly-frantic circuit of drills led by Golden Gophers coaches and players, was adjusting well on the fly, quick, yet able to shut things down in a blink. Good overall body control from the stud LB and wrestler, especially with verified size backing him. Allen did a good job of asserting himself as a must-know name to the Gophers staff on Tuesday night in the 612.

Cooper goes down as one of my favorite camp finds last summer in this Minnesota 2028 class, as he put together some excellent live reps at the SDSU prospect camp. It’s also worth mentioning that in what I recall was a stacked group of upperclassmen linebackers, Cooper got pulled up to the upperclassmen group for his play that we had a front row seat for. His 2026 tape shows off the smooth soft hands that I saw last summer and one that generates power very quickly to drive the ball carrier backwards which seems to be awfully common the more you watch Cooper on tape in 2025. He has excellent vision and in my honest opinion, has some of the tighest window to scratch and crawl thru more than any linebacker in this group which is certainly why he’s our LB2 in the class. The 6’3 215 pounder, should be the next 2028 target out of powerhouse Caledonia that you see playing Division 1 football from my view.

I am heavily considering making Caledonia’s imposing linebacker Cooper Allen the #1 prospect in Minnesota’s 2028 class, and his 2025-26 wrestling season is only making the choice easier. Currently ranked 5th at Class A 215 pounds, Allen sprinted out of the gates to a 14-1 record in the 2025-26 season, and he also placed 5th at the heavyweight Bi-State wrestling tournament in La Crosse, going 5-2 on the weekend to really put that “iron sharpens iron” mantra to the test.

A darling of the 2025 Summer Camp SZN, Allen absolutely blew the roof off the South Dakota State prospect camp in June, which included a testing performance so impressive that I’m going to keep it close to the vest! Allen transitioned to the football field beautifully, finishing Caledonia’s 12 game 2025 campaign with 114 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 FFs, according to MNFootballHub, up there with the top in the state for total tackles last fall. Although he only has two games of 2025 highlights up on his Hudl, Allen still displays nose for the ball and can make 1v1 tackles in space and all over the field and is a beast of a tackler who dominates at the contact point and gain line, especially when he has a full head of steam. Allen flies off the ball at the snap and is strong through contact and can make 1v1 tackles with OL draped all over him, and I’m impressed by his lateral agility and quickness when reading and tracking ball carriers at the LOS and gap-to-gap. At a verified 6’3, 215+, Allen owns sideline-to-sideline range and explosive closing speed, with particularly impressive acceleration for his size once he sticks his cleat in the turf and fires out towards the ball carrier. So much obvious juice coming out of one of Minnesota’s most legendary programs, and with a wrestling background to boot? Future is bright for this sophomore Warrior.

Shoutout to fellow PRZ scout Nate Wahl Nate Wahl 5'8" | 210 lbs | DL Big Lake | 2027 MN , who found Caledonia’s Next Great Prep Football Prospect at one of South Dakota State’s prospect camps this summer. This may go down as the recruiting find of the year in Minnesota, as Allen was not only a fantastic tester and performer at a verified 6’3, 215 pounds as a rising sophomore, but also has been up eye-catching production on the gridiron as a second-year starter in 2025. Through three games, Allen has posted 30 tackles, 2 sacks, and a 1 FF, positioning himself to easily best his 2024 numbers of 55 tackles, 5 sacks, and 3 TFLs. Given the combination, it’s hard not to see Allen as a P4 linebacker or DE some day soon, and the film he’s released so far displays eye-catching closing speed, defensive range, the ability to easily track the hip and close with pace, and tackle well in space and in 1v1 settings. Allen flows to the ball with urgency, attacks at the contact point and looks to win at the gain line, and runs the alley like a safety. I’m itching for more tape on this kid. Nothing hits like a Division 1 Caledonia kid.

@Cooper138752q

https://www.hudl.com/video/3/20090814/68c19eb9646e58d7c62d0e96

Cooper Allen Cooper Allen 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB Caledonia | 2028 State MN has D1-level size already as a freshman, and he’s done more than enough to solidify the #1 spot among the LBs heading into his sophomore season. Allen recorded 51 tackles and 4 sacks as a freshman. Allen has plenty of strength to take on blockers 1-on-1, showing some strong reps as a DE/OLB hybrid. Allen’s got the speed to win on the outside rush while also being able to drive Tackles back, while utilizing great hand-fighting ability to rip away from blocks to get to the QB. Allen is already primed to be the next stud LB/athlete name from Caledonia’s football team to watch out for going forward.

Minnesota has a heck of an athlete coming through the LB ranks in 2028 Cooper Allen Cooper Allen 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB Caledonia | 2028 State MN . The PRZ MN team clearly understands that as Cooper is the #2 overall player in the class and top player at the LB position. Cooper already possesses elite size at 6’3″ 211 lbs on the day of the camp. He ran 4.84 in the 40, 4.53 in the shuttle, jumped 8’11” and 29″. Great numbers to continue to improve upon. Cooper is at his best when the live battles started. He is a kid that makes every movement while loaded up with power behind it. The highly impactful sophomore is agile through the front seven trash and quickly cleans himself of any blocks. The future is looking bright for this kid.