VERO BEACH – Everyone should know this by now.
Vero Beach 2025 linebacker Tarvos “TJ” Alford is the No. 1-ranked overall player on the Treasure Coast. He made history as the first player from the 772 to pledge his verbal commitment to Ohio State, one of the most prestigious college football programs of all-time.
We can say this right now: Alford is likely to be remembered as one of the best overall players to ever come out of the Treasure Coast.
This claim is something that we can all agree on.
And to top it off, the 6-foot-2, 215-pound linebacker will be playing in the Adidas All-American Bowl on January 11, 2025.
Oh wait, there’s more.
Alford was one of three Vero Beach players to be selected by ESPN West Palm Beach as a Top 63 invite – one of the greatest honors for any high school football player in our area.
Alford spoke on the ESPN Top 63 selections that he and teammates Robert “RJ” Jones (2025 ATH; Illinois verbal commit) and Anthwone Montgomery (2025 LB; Austin Peay verbal commit) have earned on Day 1 of fall football practice yesterday (July 29).
“It’s great,” Alford said. “We all put in a lot of work.”
Let us focus on the overall production that the Ohio State verbal commit has put out on display as a junior.
This past season, the 2023 TC Palm Defensive Player of the Year posted the following statistics:
•114 tackles
•12 tackles for loss
•6 pass breakups
•4 sacks
•1 interception
Best individual game – Week 5 against Seminole (Sanford) in 45-20 loss with:
•17 tackles
•1 pass breakup
Alford on his junior campaign with Vero Beach:
“I feel like I had a great junior season,” Alford said. “My best season yet. Moving to Vero took my game to another level by playing bigger schools. I loved the competition and brotherhood we had. We hung out a lot outside football.”
With that said, the offseason has been one to remember for Alford.
On March 30, our No. 1-ranked player on the Treasure Coast announced his verbal pledge to the Buckeyes. It is widely expected that he will stick by Ohio State and sign his letter of intent with the Big Ten powerhouse for Early National Signing Day on Wednesday, December 4.
Alford on how he came to his final decision on Ohio State:
“It’s the connection I had with my position coach (James Laurinaitis) and just all the endless doors playing at Ohio can open,” Alford said.
Alford performed at a series of camps and 7-on-7 throughout the offseason. He spoke on that and more.
“The offseason was great,” Alford said. “I feel like we got stronger in the weight room. 7-on-7’s and camps helped with my overall coverage skills. And the padded camp we went to got me back in that pads mode.”
As we officially move on from the offseason to fall football practice mode, Alford was ready to share his aspirations for his upcoming senior season with Vero Beach.
“My individual goal is be better than last year with 150 TTs (total tackles), 16 TFLs, 2 picks, 2 forced fumbles, and 5 PBUs,” Alford said. “And for the team, it’s to just become one and take this thing all the way.”
PHOTO CREDITS: Blue Leprechaun and Clara Sales
VIDEO CREDITS: Michael Fabian
Muck City Media Enterprises 
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