Brian Alford

Brian Alford
No. 84     
Wide Receiver
Personal information
Date of birth: June 7, 1975 (1975-06-07) (age 36)
Place of birth: Oak Park, Michigan
High School: Oak Park High School
Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Weight: 175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
College: Purdue
NFL Draft: 1998 / Round: 3 / Pick: 70
Debuted in 1998 for the New York Giants
Last played in 2003 for the Indiana Firebirds
Career history
*Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status: Retired
Career highlights and awards
  • 1997 Sporting News All-American
  • Most touchdown receptions in a career at Purdue (31)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 1999
Receptions     2
Receiving Yards     18
Total Touchdowns     1
Stats at NFL.com
Career Arena football statistics
Receptions     6
Receiving Yards     148
Touchdowns     3
Stats at ArenaFan.com

Brian Wayne Alford (born June 7, 1975 in Oak Park, Michigan) is a former American football wide receiver. During his National Football League career, he played for the New York Giants.

Contents

Early life

A 1993 graduate of Oak Park High School in Oak Park, Michigan, Alford was a standout member of the football and track and field teams. He was a three year starter for football, and named to the Oakland Press Dream Team, first team all-state as well as voted to play in the Michigan All-Star game as a senior.[1]

College career

Alford attended Purdue University on a football scholarship. In 1993, Alford redshirted. In 1994, he played in the final five games after recovering from a broken clavicle, sustained in preseaon Black & Gold Game. As a sophomore, he started first 6 games and played in all 11 games, leading the team in catches and TDs. As a junior in 1996, he was named First team All-Big Ten and Purdue’s MVP. He placed 22nd in NCAA in pass receptions, and 2nd in the conference and 17th in nation in yardage. On November 23, 1996, Alford had the 2nd greatest about of receiving yards in a single Old Oaken Bucket game, with 162 yards. He also established a career high 12 touchdown receptions. With Joe Tiller taking over as Purdue's head coach in 1997, he set career highs in catches (67) and yards (1,228). He was named a team captain, First team All-American by Sporting News News, 2nd team by the AP 3rd team by Sporting News. He graduated as the all-time leader in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. He also set single season receiving yards, and at the time of his graduation, ranked 4th on all-time Big Ten single season list 4th in TD, 4th in receiving yards, and 8th in receptions. He also holds the Purdue record for receiving touchdowns in a career, 31, as well as placing in the top 5 in several other Purdue receiving records.[2]

Statistics

Source:[3]

    Receiving
Season Team Rec Yds Avg TD Long
1994 Purdue 4 58 14.5 1 28
1995 Purdue 34 686 20.2 8 78
1996 Purdue 63 1,057 16.8 12 90
1997 Purdue 63 1,228 19.5 10 93
Totals 164 3,029 18.5 31 93

Professional career

New York Giants

Alford was drafted in the 3rd round, 70th overall, by the New York Giants, in the 1998 NFL Draft.[4] He was released August 27, 2000 after appearing in just 6 games over the course of 2 seasons, making just 2 catches.[5]

Miami Dolphins

Alford would sign with the Miami Dolphins later in 2000, and was placed on the practice squad. He was released on December 7, 2000, only to be re-signed on December 13, and then was then released again on July 12, 2001.

Indiana Firebirds

For the 2003 season, Alford started as a practice squad member of the Indiana Firebirds of the Arena Football League. He was later signed off the practice squad,[6] catching 6 passes for 148 yards and 3 touchdowns.

References