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C, 6'3, 282, 4.85, 365 BP
Wenonah, AL
Nickname: Zo
Birthday: 9-8-81
High School: Wenonah
HS Mascot: Mighty Dragons
HS Coach: Ronald Cheatham
HS Position: C/DE
HS Number: 58
AL Number: 58?
Official Visits: AL, FL, USM
Second Choice: Florida
Host During Alabama Visit: Reggie Grimes
Committed: 1-26-99
Roommate To Be: Saleem Rasheed
Academic Status: Qualified
Stats
HS Junior Season
Blocking
Tackles
HS Senior Season
Blocking
Tackles
Honors
- Two-time All-State
- Two-time All-Metro
- Birmingham Post-Hearld Ten Most Wanted
- Jefferson County Lineman of The Year
- Metro Area Western Player of The Year
- Tuscaloosa News Sweet 16
- USA Today All American
- SuperPrep All American
- Prep Star All American
SBR Scouting Report
Good quickness and mobility. Played center in a Wing-T offense and defensive end on defense. The Wing-T requires offensive linemen to follow a set of rules specific to the Wing-T. Very intelligent young man. Projects as a center prospect.
[Observation: film of two games from junior season.]
Stories
The Next Dwight Stephenson?
Ephraim |
By now Alonzo Ephraim is used to the comparison.
"You're going to ask me about Dwight Stephenson, right?"
That's right.
"I've heard it a million times already," Ephraim says. "I'm honored by it. Who wouldn't be? He's the greatest center of all time -- maybe the greatest offensive lineman period."
The comparisons started during Ephraim's junior season.
"We ran a quarterback sneak like five or six plays in a row and got about 10 to 15 yards every time," Ephraim says. "After the game people started telling me that I reminded them of Dwight Stephenson."
This past season some recruiting services rated Ephraim as the nation's top prep center. He has excellent size, strength, and exceptional quickness. But the characteristics that set him apart are wisdom and technique.
"Wisdom is knowing the right line calls to make so that the offensive line is on the same page," Ephraim says. "Technique is understanding the way to block your man properly. I work hard on being a complete player."
That sounds like Dwight Stephenson.
His Florida Visit
As a bus full of players pulled up to the stadium, the Florida fans started going wild. It was game day at The Swamp -- sort of.
"They wanted us to pretend like we were already playing for Florida," says Alonzo Ephraim. "When we got off the bus the fans were lined up on both sides all the way to the dressing room. They were patting all of us on the back as we ran to the dressing room."
Once inside the dressing room, each prospect changed into a Florida jersey that included his name and high school number. The prospects were required to wear the jerseys that night to dinner.
"My jersey was about three sizes too small," Ephraim says. "I asked if I could take it off, but they wouldn't let me. I was miserable."
That's life as a Gator.
Dreams Can Come True!
Wenonah coach Ronald Cheatham instilled two notions into Alonzo Ephraim.
"Coach always said that I had real good hands," Ephraim says. "And he told me to believe my dreams and they'd come true."
In the Minor game during his junior season, Ephraim found out that his coach was right -- dreams can come true.
"All week long I had this dream about intercepting a pass," he says. "Defensive ends don't usually intercept passes, but I told my teammates that I was going to intercept one against Minor."
Late in the first half, Minor's quarterback threw a quick pass into the right flat. Ephraim jumped up to try to block it.
SBR
Ephraim |
"That's all I was trying to do. But when I came down, the ball was in my hands."
Ephraim was so excited that he didn't even try to return the interception.
"I just couldn't believe that it happened," he says.
Now Ephraim is dreaming about what it'll be like playing for Alabama.
"I dream of going down there and winning a national championship."
That's a dream all Alabama fans believe.
Q&A
TI: There's been some talk that you might try to play both ways at Alabama.
AE: They've told me that if I'm well-conditioned that I might get in at defensive end in pass rushing situations. Or I could be like Terry Jones [TJ Sr.] and play offense for a couple of years and then switch to defense. He did that when he played at Alabama.
TI: Don't you prefer defense?
AE: Definitely, because I get an adrenaline rush playing defense. It's like all cylinders are on go. But I get pretty hyped up on offense when I pancake somebody. But there's nothing like slamming somebody on defense.
TI: Didn't Florida recruit you as a defensive end?
AE: Yes they did and that was hard to turn down. Coach Spurrier told me that they really needed some defensive ends and I that had a chance to start pretty early.
TI: Did you come close to going to Florida?
AE: It was hard decision because like Coach Spurrier said, Florida has a winning tradition in the 90s. They've averaged winning 10 games a season since he's been there. Plus, everybody wants to live in Florida because it's a nice place. But I prayed about it and my heart was always at Alabama.
TI: Did your family want you to go to Alabama?
AE: My dad and my brother are die-hard Alabama fans, so they were hoping I'd pick Alabama. They're loving it now. They're pushing me to be in tip-top shape. They want me to be ready.
TI: Do you expect to play next season?
AE: I do because I'll work hard. Coach Swinney has told me that he expects me to play in the first game next year and that's what I'm preparing for. I'm lifting weights about two hours a day, five or six days a week. I'm also doing a lot of conditioning work.
TI: In what areas do you want to improve?
AE: Mainly my speed and strength. I want to have the speed of a linebacker and be stronger than I am right now. I'm benching about 365 right now, but I'd like to get close to 400 by August.
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