Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1338415
24 MARCH 2021 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2021 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY MIKE SINGER Joe Alt's literal growth during high school has been remarkable. He played JV quarterback as a freshman before moving to line- backer his sophomore year at Totino- Grace High School in Fridley, Minn. He played at 6-3, 200 pounds and showed plenty of promise with his athleticism, yet it was clear that line- backer wasn't his future. By the time his junior year in 2019 rolled around, Alt grew to 6-6, 230 pounds, and he was moved to tight end. He started receiving Division I interest, and it seemed like he had found his position for the next level. Alt's usage as a pass catcher was limited, hauling in 17 passes for 143 yards during his junior season. He was basically a sixth offensive lineman, and although he was on the slim side, he showed the lateral movement and blocking skills to get college coaches excited about his potential move from tight end to offensive tackle. He committed to Notre Dame on July 22, 2020 and weighed about 260 pounds. When he signed with the Irish in December, the university listed him at 6-7, 280 pounds. Currently, Alt reports that he's 6-7¾ and in the 290-295 pound range. In the span of about 15 months, Alt has grown more than four inches and gained more than 90 pounds, and it's all been good for him. "I've really been focusing on my running, and as I've gained weight, I've gotten faster or at least stayed the same," Alt said. "I don't think I look that much different in the face. I don't think my body has changed a whole bunch. "I'm not getting fat. It's just muscle mass, which is really good." Alt's father, John, was a two-time Pro Bowler during his career with the Kansas City Chiefs. He played his collegiate ball at Iowa and came in as a tight end. He eventually made the move to offensive tackle just like his son did in 2020. It's hard for the younger Alt to question any of his father's training tactics considering the success dad found in the NFL. "I'll ask if some of the drills he has me doing correlates to football, but he talks about how he did them," Alt said. "I have to trust him and know that it will benefit me. His experience and knowledge have been great for me. "Having his full attention as my dad, coach and trainer — I couldn't have gotten to where I am without his help. He's made a big sacrifice to spend a lot of time with me daily, and I really appreciate it." ✦ JOE ALT OFFENSIVE LINEMAN 6-7 · 280 TOTINO-GRACE H.S. NORTH OAKS, MINN. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ — — — ✪ ✪ ✪ — 15^ 6 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 179 20* 2 ^ Ranked as TE; ranked as OT STATISTICS • Switched between tight end and offensive line during his senior year, and caught eight passes for 99 yards and one touchdown. • Was a blocking tight end as a junior and hauled in 17 receptions for 143 yards. NOTABLE • Born on Feb. 28, 2003. • 2020 KARE 11 Minnesota All-Metro first-team offense. • 2020 Minnesota Vikings All-State Team. • Finalist for the 2020 Minnesota Mr. Football award. • 2020 Minnesota Class 6A Academic All-State. • His older brother Mark Alt has played profes- sional hockey since 2010 and is under contract with the Los Angeles Kings. • His father, John, played offensive tackle for Iowa before a career with the Kansas City Chiefs from 1984-96, was a two-time Pro Bowl selection ('92 and '93) and was inducted into the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2002. • Also played basketball at Totino-Grace. • Intends to major in mechanical engineering. RECRUITMENT • Offered by Notre Dame on May 22, 2020 and committed to the Fighting Irish on July 6, 2020. • Also considered Iowa, his father's alma mater, and Minnesota, the local program. • Took a self-guided tour of Notre Dame's cam- pus before making his decision. • Recruited by offensive line coach Jeff Quinn. 2021 PROJECTION • Alt is likely to redshirt, but with his back- ground as a tight end, the Irish staff could use him in some short-yardage situations next fall while still preserving his eligibility. THEY SAID IT John Alt: "Joe has a really nice wingspan. As a tackle, that's what you look for. He bends well and pops his hips nicely. He has to continue to fill out. I think Notre Dame mentioned the four- game redshirt rule and can use Joe as an extra lineman like he is right now. "If he gets some early playing time, I'd imagine he'd be used as an extra tackle. He's just going to continue to mature. He's a bit of a late bloomer, but I think that's a plus, not a negative. He has a lot of upside. He's really just coming into his own now." National recruiting analyst Tom Lemming: "He's from a family known for their height, and Joe, at 6-7, fits right into the family's football pedigree. He has the frame as an offensive line- man, similar to Robert Gallery, who was a 6-7, 220-pound tight end who wound up weighing 330 at Iowa and being the No. 2 pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. Alt has similar athletic ability and size." Pro Bowl Father Has Helped Joe Alt Grow Into A High-Upside Lineman Alt switched between tight end and the offensive line as a senior, and caught eight passes for 99 yards and one touchdown. He was a finalist for the Minnesota Mr. Football award. PHOTO COURTESY TOTINO-GRACE HIGH SCHOOL