Jay Alford
Encyclopedia
Jason Jamaal Alford is an American football
defensive tackle who is currently a free agent
. He was drafted by the New York Giants
in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Penn State
.
Alford has also been a member of the Oakland Raiders
and Seattle Seahawks
. In 2007, Alford served as the Giant's long snapper
during field goal
attempts, due to a season-ending injury to Ryan Kuehl
.
. He played in 46 games with 41 starts for the Nittany Lions and recorded 118 tackles (60 solo), 32 tackles for losses and 19 sacks. He also recovered 4 fumbles, forced 3 fumbles, deflected 12 passes and registered 3 quarterback pressures. He was named Third-team All-America selection by the Associated Press and was All-Big Ten
selection as a junior and senior. Alford finished his senior season with 32 tackles
and eight sacks. Alford earned a Bachelor of Arts
in Integrative Arts from Penn State in 2006. He was selected for Penn State's Jim O’Hora Award
which honors the defense’s most improved player each season.
in Super Bowl XLII
. With less than one minute remaining in the game and the New England Patriots
down 17-14 with possession of the ball, Alford sacked Brady resulting in a 3rd and 20 situation. The Giants went on to shock the previously undefeated Patriots 17-14 in the greatest upset in Super Bowl history. As a rookie in 2007, Alford played in all 16 regular season games and all 4 postseason games. He was the snapper for field goals and extra points all season. He finished with 8 tackles (1 solo), 1 sack, 5 QB hurries and 2 QB hits. In 2008, he played in all 16 regular season games with 3 starts and played in the NFC Divisional Playoff game vs. Philadelphia. He finished with 26 tackles (9 solo), 2.5 sacks, 3 tackles for losses, 4 QB hurries, 7 QB hits, and 1 pass defensed. Alford missed the 2009 NFL season
after he tore his MCL
and partially tore his ACL
in the preseason. He was waived on September 4, 2010.
. He was waived on October 6.
. He was released on August 30.
He is currently playing for Virginia Destroyers in the UFL league.
and raised by his grandmother. He was a standout player at Orange High School, where he was named All-State, a U.S. Army All-American, and was listed among the G&W Recruiting Report Top 50 defensive players in the nation. Alford also was named to the Prep Star Dream Team.
On February 29, 2008, Alford was awarded the City of Orange Township's Key to the City.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
defensive tackle who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was drafted by the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft
2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Penn State
Penn State Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
.
Alford has also been a member of the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
. In 2007, Alford served as the Giant's long snapper
Long snapper
In American football and Canadian football, the term long snapper refers to a player who is a specialized center during punts, field goals, and extra point attempts. His job is to snap the ball as quickly and accurately as possible....
during field goal
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
attempts, due to a season-ending injury to Ryan Kuehl
Ryan Kuehl
Ryan Philip Kuehl is an American football long snapper who is currently a free agent.-Early years:...
.
Early career
Alford Attended Orange High School, (N.J.) about 30 minutes from Giants Stadium. He was a three-year starter who was selected First-team All-State, U.S. Army All-American and was listed among the G&W Recruiting Report Top 50 defensive players in the nation.College career
Alford was a four-year starter for the Nittany LionsPenn State Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
. He played in 46 games with 41 starts for the Nittany Lions and recorded 118 tackles (60 solo), 32 tackles for losses and 19 sacks. He also recovered 4 fumbles, forced 3 fumbles, deflected 12 passes and registered 3 quarterback pressures. He was named Third-team All-America selection by the Associated Press and was All-Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
selection as a junior and senior. Alford finished his senior season with 32 tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
and eight sacks. Alford earned a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Integrative Arts from Penn State in 2006. He was selected for Penn State's Jim O’Hora Award
Jim O'Hora
James Joseph O’Hora was an American college football coach for over 30 years.-Early years:O’Hora was born in Dunmore, Pennsylvania. His father, Michael, was an immigrant from Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland who entered the United States through Ellis Island. His mother, Mary Butler O’Hora, was also...
which honors the defense’s most improved player each season.
Pre-draft
| Pre-draft measureables | |||||||||||||||||||
| Height | Weight | 40-yard dash 40 yard dash The 40-yard dash is a sprint covering . It is primarily run to evaluate the speed of American football players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting. A player's recorded time in the 40 can have a heavy impact on his prospects in college or professional football... |
10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20 ss 20 yard shuttle The 20-yard shuttle, also simply called the short shuttle, is a test performed by American football athletes at the NFL combine. It is primarily run to evaluate the quickness and change-of-direction ability of players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting... |
3-cone 3 cone drill The 3 cone drill, or three cone drill, is a test performed by American football athletes at the NFL combine. It is primarily run to evaluate the agility, quickness and fluidity of movement of players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting... |
Vert Vertical jump A vertical jump or vertical leap is the act of raising one's center of gravity higher in the vertical plane solely with the use of one's own muscles; it is a measure of how high an individual or athlete can elevate off the ground from a standstill.-Types of vertical jump:The vertical jump is... |
Broad | BP Bench press The bench press is an exercise of the upper body. For bodybuilding purposes, it is used to stimulate the pectorals, deltoids, and triceps. While on his or her back, the person performing the bench press lowers a weight to the level of the chest, then pushes it back up until the arm is straight... |
Wonderlic | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6-3⅜* | 304 * | 5.07 ** | 1.72 * | 3.01 * | 4.53 * | 7.48 * | 25½" * | 8'07" * | 23 * | X | |||||||||
| * represents NFL Combine NFL Combine The National Invitational Camp or NFL Scouting Combine, as it is more widely known, is a week-long showcase, occurring every February in Indianapolis, Indiana's Lucas Oil Stadium , where college football players perform physical and mental tests in front of National Football League coaches, general... **represents Penn State Pro Day—"X" Denotes "No Data" or "Did Not Participate" |
|||||||||||||||||||
New York Giants
Alford's most memorable moment with the Giants was a devastating sack of Tom BradyTom Brady
Thomas Edward Patrick "Tom" Brady, Jr. is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . After playing college football at Michigan, Brady was drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft.He has played in four Super Bowls,...
in Super Bowl XLII
Super Bowl XLII
Super Bowl XLII was an American football game on February 3, 2008 that featured the National Football Conference champion New York Giants and the American Football Conference champion New England Patriots to decide the National Football League champion for the 2007 season...
. With less than one minute remaining in the game and the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
down 17-14 with possession of the ball, Alford sacked Brady resulting in a 3rd and 20 situation. The Giants went on to shock the previously undefeated Patriots 17-14 in the greatest upset in Super Bowl history. As a rookie in 2007, Alford played in all 16 regular season games and all 4 postseason games. He was the snapper for field goals and extra points all season. He finished with 8 tackles (1 solo), 1 sack, 5 QB hurries and 2 QB hits. In 2008, he played in all 16 regular season games with 3 starts and played in the NFC Divisional Playoff game vs. Philadelphia. He finished with 26 tackles (9 solo), 2.5 sacks, 3 tackles for losses, 4 QB hurries, 7 QB hits, and 1 pass defensed. Alford missed the 2009 NFL season
2009 NFL season
The 2009 NFL season was the 90th regular season of the National Football League.The preseason started with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on August 9, 2009, and the regular season began September 10. The season ended with Super Bowl XLIV, the league's championship game, on February 7, 2010 at...
after he tore his MCL
MCL
- Medicine :* Mantle cell lymphoma* Mast cell leukemia* Maximum comfortable levels of auditory stimuli* Medial collateral ligament* Medical Center Leeuwarden* Medical Center of Louisiana at New Orleans* Midclavicular line* Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis...
and partially tore his ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
in the preseason. He was waived on September 4, 2010.
Oakland Raiders
On September 8, 2010, Alford signed with the Oakland RaidersOakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He was waived on October 6.
Seattle Seahawks
On January 27, 2011, Alford signed with the Seattle SeahawksSeattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
. He was released on August 30.
He is currently playing for Virginia Destroyers in the UFL league.
Personal
Alford was born in Orange, New JerseyOrange, New Jersey
The City of Orange is a city and township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 30,134...
and raised by his grandmother. He was a standout player at Orange High School, where he was named All-State, a U.S. Army All-American, and was listed among the G&W Recruiting Report Top 50 defensive players in the nation. Alford also was named to the Prep Star Dream Team.
On February 29, 2008, Alford was awarded the City of Orange Township's Key to the City.
External links
- "Alford Meets the Media", The Giants Insider, April 29, 2007