Many young football players dream of getting offered by Penn State or Auburn, and Tarvos Alford II, known as TJ, got both offers in the same day
Thursday morning, Alford, a 2025 ATH from John Carroll High School in Fort Pierce, Florida, attended the “Champions Elite” football camp in LeGrange, Georgia.
An Auburn assistant— special teams coordinator and edge linebackers coach Roc Bellantoni— was in attendance and offered Alford in person.
It was already a good day. Alford— an Adidas Freshman All-American— woke up that morning with offers from Florida Atlantic and Indiana and now had one from a storied SEC program.
All Glory to GOD! After a great conversation with @CoachRoc I am blessed to say I have received my first SEC and third D1 offer from Auburn University!! @CoachGroody17 @kimberrylubin @crob45 @DarrenUscherAU @RWrightRivals @Andrew_Ivins @tcelite7on7 @CoachScoe @CoachHarsin pic.twitter.com/Njd8YNhkUR
— Tarvos “Tj” Alford II (@TarvosAlford_II) June 2, 2022
As they say in the commercials, however, “but, wait, there’s more.”
On the bus to leave LeGrange, Alford got a text from his head coach, Mickey Groody.
“Okay,” the text read, “so do you want any more offers today?”
Yes, indeed.
Groody had talked with Penn State’s running backs coach, JaJuan Seider.
Alford has impressed both Seider and first-year defensive coordinator Manny Diaz, and Seider called Groody to tell him that an offer from Penn State was now on the table.
Back to Back!! All Glory to God! I am blessed and highly favored to say I have received my fourth D1 offer from Penn State!! #JCnation @CoachGroody17 @kimberrylubin @coachseider @Coach_MannyDiaz @coachjfranklin @RWrightRivals @ChadSimmons_ @Andrew_Ivins @MohrRecruiting pic.twitter.com/IAsb5Qp1XB
— Tarvos “Tj” Alford II (@TarvosAlford_II) June 2, 2022
Naturally, Alford was pleased.
“I know they’ve been looking at me for a little bit,” Alford said, “so I was waiting for them to pull the trigger.”
For Groody, getting to tell Alford the good news was an example of what he loves most about his job.
“To see our guys, especially T.J., the hard work and how hard he works, not just on the field but in the classroom and in the community,” Groody said. “To see him get rewarded for all that hard work is truly why I do what I do.”
Alford’s week only got better from there.
Since getting the Penn State offer, he’s also received offers from Coastal Carolina, East Carolina and Western Kentucky.
Alford plays a lot of linebacker in John Carroll’s defense.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.He has “The MOST versatile linebacker in the NATION!” written in his Twitter bio, so it’s not a surprise that he closely associates one of Penn State’s nicknames when with the school.
“I know they’re LBU,” Alford said. “That’s the one thing I know for sure.”
Alford is aware of Penn State’s prestigious tradition of great linebackers.
He’s a fan of former Penn State linebacker and current Dallas Cowboy Micah Parsons.
Although linebacker is his primary position, Alford (6-foot-2, 204 pounds) sees himself as an athlete because he can play in multiple spots on defense.
Alford is a rare breed as somebody fast enough to play safety— and run the 100-meter dash on the track team— and big enough to play defensive end if necessary.
“On the field,” Groody said, “he just covers ground so quickly.”
Alford feels he’s better in pass coverage than in run defense at this point in his development, although he finished his first year with 63 tackles, which speaks well for his ability to play against the run.
Alford has yet to be offered by his “dream school,” the University of Florida.
Fort Pierce is roughly three-and-a-half hours from Gainesville, and Alford is a Gators fan.
Although he’d be giddy about getting an offer from Florida, he’s more than willing to give other schools a chance if they’re ready to give one to him.
“My whole family is really big on Florida,” Alford said. “But I’m really good with anybody that decides to believe in my talents and offer me.”
Alford currently doesn’t have any visits to Penn State lined up.
He’ll visit Clemson, South Carolina and Tennessee, among others, this summer on a college tour with “Travel Coast Elite 7v7.”
Additionally, Groody will go to Auburn and Alabama with Alford and a few other players.
Alford enjoys listening to music and even writes songs when he’s not on the field. Alford said he writes them to clear his mind, and the pieces go unrecorded.
Alford now has seven offers and hasn’t even started his sophomore year of high school.
He’s wanted to be noticed by Division I programs since he started his high school career, and it’s beginning to happen.
