A.J. Alexander (5-10, 180), the speedy running back/wide receiver from Altoona Area High School in Pennsylvania, played quarterback as a junior and finished the year with over 1000 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns. Passing, he had another 400 yards with four scores.
"I have great speed (claims a 4.3 forty)," Alexander said. "I'm fast and move well. Once I'm in the open field I'm gone. Also, I'm great one-on-one and can usually beat anyone. Everybody wants me for offense and a lot of schools are saying they'll use me like Reggie Bush. I've played running back most of my life and would like to play that in college.
"I still want to improve my route running and my hands catching the ball," Alexander said. "I need to get stronger."
He benches 280 pounds, squats 410 and has a 42 inch vertical jump. Alexander also runs track (10.5-100m, 21.5-200m), but will only play football in college. "I don't even read the letters I get for track," he admitted.
Alexander says he has around 20 scholarship offers and denies a leader, but said he favors Penn State, Florida, Florida State, Georgia and Pittsburgh.
The Nittany Lions are only 40 minutes from his home. "Distance doesn't matter," Alexander said. "It's wherever I fit in. Penn State is a great program with a lot of history. I know a bunch of people that go there and I'm really familiar with the coaches."
His first scholarship offer was from Pittsburgh last September and he plans to visit the Panthers. He already visited the Rutgers Junior Day. And has plans for the Scout.com Combine on May 8.
"I want to have my five favorites by the beginning of the season," Alexander said.
Although he says he never followed a specific school, he says the SEC was always his favorite conference. "I loved watching them as a kid," Alexander said. "They are always so fast and fun to watch. Plus, they have all the best teams.
"I love the weather at Florida and they are the national champs, so I really want to see what it's like there.
"I also like Florida State a lot," Alexander said. "I have a great relationship with (assistant head coach) Rick Trickett. He's very funny and reminds me of my uncles.
Speaking of Alexander's uncles, one of them lives in Atlanta. "I went to the Georgia/Tennessee game last year and loved it. Georgia is a great place and they have nice weather too."
Some of the other schools that have offered Alexander are Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Clemson, Maryland and several others.
He reports a 3.2 core GPA and an 830 SAT. He's taking the ACT this summer.