What Tony Alford told 2025 Alabama RB Alvin Henderson: ‘I’m not the type of coach that’s going to sell you lies and dreams’

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State operating backs coach Tony Alford is a straight shooter. He’s not going to sugarcoat something. In case you’re nice, he’ll inform you you’re uncommon. In case you’re not, he’ll present you methods to attain your potential.

It’s one cause recruits soak in his message.

One in every of Alford’s newest provides is Alvin Henderson, a promising 2025 operating again out of Elba, Alabama. Ohio State turned his 52nd supply on Friday as Alford and Henderson spoke over the telephone for the primary time.

”He saved it actual,” Henderson informed cleveland.com. “The issues he informed me over the telephone, no different coach that I had talked to ever mentioned something like that.”

These phrases have been honesty, a price that Alford encourages all of his recruits to embrace. He reduce to the chase with a robust message.

“He was like, ‘I’m not the kind of a coach that’s going to promote you lies and desires. Out of all of the coaches which have already provided you, have they informed you why they really need you?’”

Henderson had heard that sort of discuss solely as soon as earlier than.

“I mentioned, ‘No coach has ever informed me that besides at Alabama,’ ” he mentioned. “We talked, me and my mother, and he informed us about The Ohio State. He mentioned he didn’t need me to suppose he was promoting me desires. He needed me to see it with my very own eyes.”

That dialog trickled into Alford doubling down on what he believes Henderson can turn into a lot later down the street.

“He mentioned, ‘I’m going to be trustworthy with you, there are only some guys in your class that I’m recruiting that may make it to the NFL. You might be one of many premiere-type guys.’”

Ohio State has provided six operating backs within the class, ther others being Jordon Davison, Byron Louis, Gideon Davidson, Donovan Johnson and Harlem Berry.

Alford scouted Henderson for 2 months earlier than extending the supply.

“He mentioned he isn’t the kind of coach that simply goes out and provides you,” Henderson mentioned. “He desires to get to know you earlier than he provides you.”

Alford’s trustworthy strategy planted the seed, however there may be nonetheless an extended method to go to try to pull certainly one of Nick Saban’s targets out of his personal yard. The Buckeyes have provided simply 20 prospects from the Yellowhammer State since 1999. They’ve by no means earned a dedication from an Alabama prospect within the trendy recruiting period (1999-present).

Residing only a three-hour drive from Tuscaloosa, Henderson grew up an Alabama fan. He’s been on Saban’s radar for fairly some time, with the Crimson Tide extending the supply after a camp final month. The elite prospect has additionally recorded a number of visits to campus. One take a look at the movie, and it’s straightforward to see why Alabama desires him to remain dwelling.

The 5-foot-11, 180-pound all-purpose again burst onto the highschool scene with 24 touchdowns and 1,115 yards in his freshman season with the Elba Tigers. However what’s most spectacular is that he wasn’t even the starter in a few of his video games. That didn’t cease him from dominating the competitors, as chatter swirled across the South of his skills.

“I am going to a smaller faculty, however the place I am going to, we play a bit of competitors,” Henderson mentioned. “I actually wasn’t the beginning operating again final yr. When coaches discuss to my coaches and so they came upon that I didn’t begin, and each time I touched the ball and scored, that opened plenty of coaches’ eyes.”

Now all eyes are on him, as he’s being courted by school soccer’s most prestigious packages. His plan is to navigate a full-length recruitment with a end line set for Nationwide Signing Day in 2025, which is in December of 2024. Though, he admits, that plan might change.

Henderson has visited Alabama, Texas, Georgia, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Troy. He’s eyeing visits later this yr to Oklahoma, USC, Penn State, Florida, Texas A&M and Ohio State.

Alabama, and some others, have established a gradual line of communication with him.

“It’s actually Alabama,” Henderson mentioned when requested who he has the strongest relationship with. “I discuss to Alabama each week, USC each week. All the large colleges which have provided me, I discuss to them at the least as soon as per week.”

Ohio State has developed 43 operating backs into the NFL, adequate for fourth all-time, in line with Eleven Warriors. The Buckeyes well-documented historical past at operating again all the time offers them a powerful benefit in recruitments, and this one isn’t any totally different.

“I consider Ezekiel Elliott and all of the operating backs they’ve had over time,” Henderson mentioned. “I informed Coach Alford, yearly you possibly can anticipate an amazing operating again or receiver that comes out of Ohio State to be fairly good.”

The Southern prospect has by no means been to Ohio, however he’s intrigued by the Buckeyes, saying they’ll “positively keep excessive” on his board.

Between 7-on-7, a number of sports activities, and a nationwide recruitment, the three-sport athlete (baseball and basketball) is juggling a dozen issues without delay, however his focus is rarely out of sync.

“I’m doing the identical factor I did final yr actually simply more durable,” Henderson mentioned. “About seven days per week, perhaps not Sunday, however seven days per week, I’m within the lab. I solely may be higher.”

He mentioned he desires to fall in love with a program that’s actual from begin to end. Crucial a part of his recruitment is who exhibits essentially the most real like to Henderson and his household.

“No matter coaches keep in contact with me and my mother essentially the most,” Henderson mentioned. “I don’t wish to go to a college that my mother doesn’t actually know something about. I wish to go to a faculty a pair occasions earlier than I can really commit. Like Coach Alford mentioned, coaches be promoting me desires. I wish to see what it’s about earlier than I commit.”

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