Senior Spotlight: Johnathan Alston

RALEIGH, N.C. - A lot of D1 football players come to college and have to wait their turn to get onto the field. For senior cornerback Johnathan Alston, his wait wasn't in his freshman season, but rather going into his senior campaign.

Alston signed with the Wolfpack as part of the Wolfpack's 2014 recruiting class. Coming out of Bunn High School, Alston played as an outside linebacker and NC State was the only school to offer him as a wide receiver, as he received all of his other offers to play safety or corner.

He jumped at the opportunity to join the Wolfpack because he wanted to play offense, and as a freshman he saw action in seven games as a wide receiver before a dislocated elbow sidelined him for the season.

He then saw significant action the next two seasons, making 10 starts and appearing in 25 games total. He registered 39 catches for 391 yards and three scores in 2014 and 2015 combined.

Then, in the offseason between his junior year and what would have been his senior season, the coaching staff asked Alston about making a change. Not just a small adjustment to his game, but to jump over to the other side of the ball and play on the defense for the first time in his college career for his final season.

Alston response? "I'm all about it if I can be a starter."

Since he played as a true freshman back in 2014, Alston still had a redshirt season available to use. So now, he was not only changing positions but would sit out the entire 2016 season and work with the scout team to improve his skills to play cornerback in 2017 as a redshirt-senior.

"We thought that this would be a season that Jonathan could be a really good player on that side of the football if he took advantage of his year in the developmental program, and he did that," said head coach Dave Doeren.

"He's played a lot of football here as a wide receiver, he's made plays, he's scored touchdowns. "I know he's really excited to play football once again."

Alston attacked his redshirt season, and for his efforts he was named one of the scout team players of the year.

"I'm really excited," said Alston. "I had to sit out all of last year, so it is a great feeling to get to be back out there with my teammates on game days. It's a great feeling to be back playing football."

The wait for Alston ended up being 612 days. That was the amount of time between when Alston last lined up for the Wolfpack (against Mississippi State as a wide receiver in the 2015 Belk Bowl) to the 2017 season opener (ironically also played in Charlotte's Bank of America Stadium).

"I was fortunate to still have a redshirt season available to me," said Alston. "It gave me more time to learn the position and be comfortable out there. (Being at corner) is a lot different than running forward off the snap as wide receivers do.

"I'll do whatever the coaches ask of me. We all have our roles on the team, and I'm willing to do anything that helps us improve. I've always believed in myself and my talent. I feel like I am a confident player on the field regardless of where I line up."

With Alston's addition back to the active game day roster, the NC State secondary isn't getting a fresh-out-of-high-school 18 year-old, but rather a Wolfpack veteran who has already played in 33 career games.

"I feel like a freshman again sometimes with some of the little things that go into the game since the switch," said Alston. "But when I'm out on the field I really don't get nervous. I'm usually really comfortable and can just zone in. I've already played in big games, against some great teams."

During the 2017 preseason, Alston was seeing action at both cornerback spots to see where he fit into the rotation. But about halfway through camp, returning two-year starter Mike Stevens went down with a leg injury and the coaching staff put Alston on the right side for the season opener.

"We all have the next man up mentality, we all just have to pick up our play now," said Alston. "Everybody on the team has really bought in, a lot of guys have stepped up."

In the season opener against South Carolina, Alston played all 52 defensive snaps for the Pack at cornerback. He tallied three stops total, but his true impact was felt with two big plays in the fourth quarter.

After NC State cut the USC lead to 35-28 three minutes into the quarter, Alston recorded his first career interception. On a third down play, South Carolina QB Jake Bentley went deep to his favorite target Deebo Samuel, but Alston cut off the route on the sideline, and went up to get the turnover.

Alston once again came up big on another third down play, as he blitzed off the corner and recorded a nine-yard sack of Bentley on USC's next possession.

"It was definitely a good feeling to make those plays," said Alston after the game to the media. "I can't even explain it. The (interception) was a crucial play, it was a takeaway."

"He's got great ball skills for a corner," said Doeren. "Most corners struggle in that roll, but he doesn't. He's got really good vision and tracking on the ball."

With the Wolfpack opening the season on the road, Alston is anxious to once again play at Carter-Finley Stadium in front of a sea of Wolfpack fans. He will have six more opportunities to run out of the tunnel for the home crowd, starting this Saturday against Marshall.

"I'm just blessed to be able to run back out onto that field with my teammates once again," said Alston. "I have a bit of a chip on my shoulder, so I want to go out and prove to people I can do this. I feel like I've always been sort of an underdog, but now it's my turn to go out and prove I belong."

The move to cornerback is already an important move for the Wolfpack just one game into the 2017 season. But the way the coaching staff sees it, Alston's unselfish move also sets him up for a chance to play at the next level.

"I think longevity-wise, if he has a good season and does all the things he needs to do, being a long corner that can run puts him in a place where the NFL is real," said Doeren. "I think his measurables are going to be what they want."

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