The Eagle tight end and linebacker has signed to play college football at Mars Hill, a Division II school in western North Carolina.
“I’ve always wanted to play college football, ever since I was 5 years old watching my dad coach and I started playing,” Alford said. “It’s been a ridiculous amount of work and want-to on my part to play college football and further myself and make myself a better athlete. That’s my huge goal in life — to put myself at a higher level than everybody else. This is just a step to it.”
Alford, a two-way player for four years at East Jackson, signed with Mars Hill at a ceremony at the Maysville Saloon in front of family and friends.
The Mountain Lions are coming off an 8-3 season and a South Atlantic Conference championship. They also earned a trip to the Division II playoffs.
Alford said a tour of the campus and meeting with the coaches solidified his decision. He had an offer from Georgia Southern to try out and talked with several other schools, but Mars Hill just felt right.
“I could really see myself playing there,” Alford said. “The coaches were super-nice. They warmed up to me really good, and I warmed up to them, and I just fell in love with the team.”
He may see the playing field as a freshman, too.
The Mountain Lions will have three tight ends, including Alford, on the depth chart next year. One of those tight ends is an incoming freshman like Alford, while the other is a junior.
“So playing time — there’s a good chance with three tight ends,” he said. “I just have to work my butt off to get there.”
He’s also considering a future in football beyond the playing field. Alford — who helped coach a rec league football team — said he would like to major in an area that will allow him to coach one day.
East Jackson’s Cody Alford signed with Mars Hill Tuesday. Pictured are East Jackson assistant principal Troy Johnson, Beck Alford, Cody Alford, Larry Alford and former EJCHS coach Frank Caputo.
