Anthony Alonzo: One of the Most Underrated Players to Come Out of Oakland

Anthony Alonzo is one of the most underrated players to ever come out of Oakland. The 5’11” athlete played at 175 pounds in high school and consistently showed up on film in every phase of the game.

At Oakland Tech, Alonzo made his presence felt as a violent safety with high-level instincts and physicality. He flew downhill against the run and delivered punishing hits with the urgency of a true field general. He was always around the football and constantly impacting plays, forcing offenses to account for him on every play.

He was elite against the run and triggered downhill quickly to finish plays in the backfield. Alonzo racked up a high number of tackles for loss while showing great anticipation and a willingness to attack blocks and ball carriers with force.

His senior-year defensive Hudl film made the rounds on X, where football fans compared his play style to Tyrann Mathieu and Budda Baker.

The first play of the film immediately sets the tone as Alonzo flies in from the opposite side of the field and delivers a massive hit that knocks the ball carrier backward on contact. The film shows relentless pursuit, fearless physicality, and a defender capable of impacting every level of the field.

He was also a dangerous blitzer in high school. Alonzo timed pressures well and closed ground quickly when attacking the quarterback, showing a knack for finishing plays in the backfield for sacks.

Alonzo also displayed impressive coverage ability for a safety who played with such physicality. He closed throwing windows, read quarterbacks well, and finished plays on the football. He totaled seven interceptions across his junior and senior seasons.

Anthony Alonzo was a two-way star at Oakland Tech High School. (Photo: D1studentathlete)

On offense, Alonzo was just as productive. As a running back, he showed a strong blend of vision, elusiveness, and power. He consistently made defenders miss in space and finished runs through contact.

He runs with a physical edge and refuses to go down easily. Alonzo regularly bounced off contact while tossing defenders aside and used a strong stiff arm to create extra yards. He also showed excellent balance as a runner.

One memorable play shows him carrying a defensive lineman on his back for nearly 10 yards as the defender attempts to bring him down. The play perfectly captured his strength, balance, and competitiveness as a ball carrier.

His physical running style did not limit his explosiveness. In high school, Alonzo broke multiple runs of 90 yards or more, showing the long speed and finishing ability to turn routine carries into game-changing touchdowns.

As a high school running back, he rushed for over 1,000 yards in both his junior and senior seasons. He served as the centerpiece of the offense while producing consistent results week after week. He was also a legitimate receiving threat out of the backfield who could create mismatches and generate explosive plays in the open field.

Alonzo’s impact also showed up on special teams. He blew up returns, made open-field tackles, and played with relentless effort. He rarely left the field and brought value in all three phases of the game.

His versatility carried over to the college level. He signed with Bethune-Cookman University and played his freshman season at safety at the Division I level before returning to California and transitioning back to running back at Foothill College.

Alonzo spent his true freshman season at HBCU Bethune-Cookman University, where he played safety at the Division I level. (Photo: BCU Athletics)

At Foothill, Alonzo reestablished himself as a versatile offensive playmaker. Now listed at 200 pounds, he finished his junior college career as a First Team All-Conference selection.

At the college level, Alonzo proved to be a very shifty and elusive running back with real power. He is capable of making defenders miss while still finishing runs through contact. His running style resembles Isaiah Pacheco because he runs with violence through contact, urgency as a runner, and relentless effort after first contact.

He also showed himself to be an elite blocker from the running back position. Alonzo consistently stepped up in pass protection and punished defenders on film as a blocker. According to his running backs coach at Foothill, he is one of the hardest runners he has ever coached.

Alonzo’s journey reflects the type of player he has always been: tough, versatile, and productive wherever he lines up. His film consistently shows a competitor who impacts the game with physicality, effort, and playmaking ability. For a player who has produced at every level and continues to develop his game, the next opportunity will simply be another chance for Anthony Alonzo to prove what his film has shown all along.