All-American Bowl Q&A: Melvin Alaeze

San Antonio, Texas- As the events surrounding the U.S. Army All-American Bowl take place this week, the Scout.com network has full exclusive access to all of them. We will get some time to sit down with all of these outstanding young men, and hear their thoughts on the game, recruiting, and everything in between.

Randallstown (Md.) defensive end Melvin Alaeze, 6-3 and 275-pounds. Alaeze is currently looking at Maryland, Virginia Tech, and possibly Penn State.

Bob Lichtenfels how do you like it in Texas so far?

Melvin Alaeze I like the atmosphere, it’s nice down here in Texas.

BL: As one of the top players in the nation, what’s your take on this game?

MA: I am calm. It is just another game, practice is practice and a game is a game.

BL: You pay attention to recruiting rankings, How important is this game for you and where you stand in the national rankings.

MA: This is a way for me to show that I am one of the top 10 players in the country.

BL: What school’s will you be picking from, when you commit during the game?

MA: Which schools have you visited?

BL: When are you going to decide?

MA: I’m going to announce Saturday on NBC.

BL: I know Derrick Williams and Justin King have been working on you, have they had any effect on you?

MA: I’ve spoken to Derrick a couple of times about Penn State, I’ve been considering them. Paterno came to my school last week and talked to me a little bit. He did not come to my house.

BL: What are your thoughts on Penn State?

MA: They have a nice program, and good tradition. Coach Johnson is from (Md.) so he is familiar with the area.

BL: We’ve heard rumors for quite sometime that you may have been a silent commitment to Maryland, any truth to that?

MA: I heard that, but it’s just rumors and unless it comes out my mouth it isn’t true.

BL: How will you play on Saturday?

MA: I have to I have no choice.

The U.S. Army All-American Bowl will be played in San Antonio 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. The game features the top 78 football prospects in the country, East vs. West.