Just a Playmaker

Paterson Catholic High School standout Doug Alston is the type of player Connecticut could really use to take their defense to the next level. An aggressive, speedy pass rusher off the edge, Alston will most likely end up at outside linebacker in college. This April he had a chance to visit Connecticut and was very impressed with what he saw.

Paterson, N.J., native Doug Alston is the type of player that could mature into a defensive end or end up at outside linebacker at the collegiate level. If there is one thing that is certain about the 6-foot-3, 220-pound athlete it’s that he understands how to get to the quarterback, totaling 12.5 sacks as a junior. Alston made a visit with his father to Storrs in April for spring practice and left with a school that he thinks could make the final cut.

“My father and I came up in April and the first thing you noticed about Connecticut was that they had amazing facilities,” Alston explained. “The weight room had magnetic dumbbells in it and the size of it was just crazy! I mean, our weight room at Paterson Catholic is like a closet with weights in it. That weight room at Connecticut was two levels, had a track in it and the second level overlooked their practice bubble.”

“While we were up there Coach Scott Lakatos met with my father and I and just talked about how things work at Connecticut, what the program is all about and where they’re planning on going over the next several years,” Alston stated. “I liked him a lot and then I was able to meet Head Coach Randy Edsall briefly towards the end of practice who seemed very nice as well. Coach Lakatos didn’t mention what position they liked me at, but just said they looked at me as just a playmaker.”

“Both my father and I both really liked it up there. Also a matter of fact, my father loved everything about Connecticut. I haven’t been to too many campuses, but Connecticut was very big, very clean and very nice. It was just a great experience and I can tell you now that they’re a school that will be in it until the end for me. I’d give the visit a 9 out of 10 overall.”

As a junior for Paterson Catholic, Alston registered 66 tackles, 12.5 sacks, forced and recovered a fumble and deflected three passes earning All-Area, All-League and All-County honors. He is currently awaiting his SAT score, but did report that he carries a 3.8 GPA.