Melvin Alaeze, Randallstown, defensive end
Alaeze is a towering, athletic specimen whose skill many believe is far from having reached its full potential.
Yet the 6-foot-3, 275-pound senior, who is considered by many recruiting Web sites to be the nation's No. 1-rated high school defensive end, most often was simply too quick and powerful to be stopped by the majority of offensive linemen he faced. Although most teams ran away from Alaeze, who bench-presses 350 pounds and has a 30-inch vertical leap, he still recorded 18 1/2 sacks, caused three fumbles and recovered two.
Alaeze, who ran a 4.7-second 40-yard dash at a spring combine, often was dropped back into pass coverage. He had one interception. Alaeze rarely came off the field, having played linebacker, defensive end, tight end, wide receiver, and running back. Alaeze rushed for 351 yards and five touchdowns, caught 17 passes for 257 yards and three more scores, and also was the Rams' kicker and punter, averaging 40 yards per attempt on the latter.
At the season's outset, Alaeze was offered more than 50 scholarships by some of the nation's top Division I programs. Alaeze, who also plays basketball, has narrowed his preferences to Virginia Tech, Miami and Maryland, although schools such as Ohio State and Penn State still are sending representatives to his home. He has been selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio in January.
- Lem Satterfield
Alaeze is a towering, athletic specimen whose skill many believe is far from having reached its full potential.
Yet the 6-foot-3, 275-pound senior, who is considered by many recruiting Web sites to be the nation's No. 1-rated high school defensive end, most often was simply too quick and powerful to be stopped by the majority of offensive linemen he faced. Although most teams ran away from Alaeze, who bench-presses 350 pounds and has a 30-inch vertical leap, he still recorded 18 1/2 sacks, caused three fumbles and recovered two.
Alaeze, who ran a 4.7-second 40-yard dash at a spring combine, often was dropped back into pass coverage. He had one interception. Alaeze rarely came off the field, having played linebacker, defensive end, tight end, wide receiver, and running back. Alaeze rushed for 351 yards and five touchdowns, caught 17 passes for 257 yards and three more scores, and also was the Rams' kicker and punter, averaging 40 yards per attempt on the latter.
At the season's outset, Alaeze was offered more than 50 scholarships by some of the nation's top Division I programs. Alaeze, who also plays basketball, has narrowed his preferences to Virginia Tech, Miami and Maryland, although schools such as Ohio State and Penn State still are sending representatives to his home. He has been selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio in January.
- Lem Satterfield