4-star LB TJ Alford reacts to SMU offer

2025 Vero Beach (Fla.) linebacker TJ Alford is already a Top 100 prospect nationally. Now, SMU has entered the mix for him. The Mustangs already have his quarterback committed, but offered Alford this month.

SMU special teams coordinator Kyle Cooper offered the four-star prospect after chatting it up with SMU quarterback commit Tyler Aronson.

“It was a great offer especially because my QB is committed there,” Alford told On3. “They told me that Tyler and his dad were telling them about me so they checked out my film and I’m as advertised and that they really want to build a great relationship with me. He (Aronson) talks about how great it is, but I really wanna go and see for myself.”

Cooper impressed Alford during their initial conversation.

“He’s a very humble and cool guy. Can’t wait to build a relationship with him and the rest of the staff,” Alford said. “He said they liked my athleticism and sideline-to-sideline play and speed all over the field.”

Miami, Ohio State, Florida State, Tennessee and Rutgers are the schools talking with him the most right now. Those programs like that he can move around well, which stems from him playing safety.

“I’ll say definitely my ability to read and react and my sideline to sideline speed and coverage cause I use to play safety,” he said of his strengths.

According to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies, Alford’s the No. 94 overall prospect in the country and No. 9 linebacker in the nation. Florida, which will host him this weekend, leads the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine for him.

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