Boone Brothers Make Pact

San Antonio - Alex Boone arrived in San Antonio today as one of the best football players in the United States. As Boone and the other All-Americans go through interviews, pick up equipment and go through physicals, Alex has more than a football game on his mind. His brother, J.J. Boone will leave for Iraq next week for a tour of duty.

The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is played in San Antonio, Texas., at the Alamodome on Jan. 15, 2005, and broadcast nationally on NBC at 1 p.m., Eastern. Scout.com is a sponsor, the official selection partner and exclusive on-line partner of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, as well as the associated U.S. Army Combine for underclassmen.

Boone, easily a 6-foot-8, 300-pound, offensive lineman from Lakewood (Ohio) St. Ed’s is one of the most dominating football prospects in the nation and he says a lot of his success is because of his older brother.

“J.J. (Boone) has always been my biggest influence,” Boone said. “He leaves for Faluja next week and that’s been on my mind more than any football game.

“I promised my brother that if he comes home from Iraq, I’ll start next year at Ohio State. We promised that we weren’t going to let each other down.

“My brother is only 5-10 but he’s all heart. He’s a Marine that gave me a lot of crap for playing in the Army Bowl. You know how Marines are. he’s very gung ho about the Corps.” Boone exploded onto the recruiting scene as a sophomore and earned a scholarship from Ohio State before he entered his junior year. Alex quickly committed to the Buckeyes.

“I’m Ohio State through and through.” Boone said. “I’ve always wanted to be a Buckeye. I’ve had a lot of people tell me that I owe it to myself to look around but that’s just crazy. I knew I’d always be a Buckeye.”

Boone has only been in San Antonio for a few hours but he’s been extremely impressed with the spread so far.

“The Army has done a great job,” Boone said. “When you walk through the hotel for the first time, it takes your breath away.

“It’s such an honor to be here. This is more than I ever imagined and I’ve only been here for a few hours.

"I’m looking forward to meeting all the guys and playing in the game. This is something that I’ll be able to take with me the rest of my life.”

We asked Boone who his toughest competition was at the high school level.

“Definitely Freddie Lenix,” said Boone. “That dude really packs a punch. I think Freddie is at Ohio State this weekend on his official visit. Hopefully he’ll be my teammate next year.”

What advice does Alex Boone have for future blue-chip prospects?

“Don’t believe all the smoke that college recruiters blow. They all say what you want to hear. Most of the coaches I spoke to even had negative things to say about other schools.

“Be patient, be true to yourself and take visits. If you’re good enough, these schools are going to wait for you. If they don’t wait, how much did they want you any way.” Alex Boone is going to have to do battle this week with the best defensive tackle prospects in nation but that’s nothing compared to the battle that his brother will face in Iraq.