EAGAN, Minn — “I finish through the whistle, I’m pretty violent with my hands and work hard, and yeah, I think that’s the biggest thing is finishing, running through my feet and being violent,” said former Totino-Grace offensive lineman Joe Alt.
Being violent on the football field has served Alt well over the years.
He played tight end as a junior for the Eagles.
"Junior year, I think I was 220 pounds to start the season," Alt said. "I hit my growth spurt the end of my sophomore season into my junior year, so I was a little thinner than I am now."
That 220-pound string bean tight end has blossomed into one of the best offensive line prospects the state of Minnesota has ever produced. Alt was a 2020 Mr. Football finalist before spending the last three seasons at Notre Dame, starting the final 33 games of his career, earning first team unanimous All-American honors this fall as a junior before declaring for the NFL Draft.
Alt now spends his days at the Training Haus in Eagan.
“Training Haus is an all-encompassing sports performance facility. So we have everything from physical therapy to biomechanics lab to athletic trainers and sports performance coaches,” said Training Haus Sports Performance Coach Bill Welle.
Just 25 minutes from his family home, a perfect location for Alt to get ready for this week's NFL Combine and preseason workouts.
“Oh yeah, it’s great, never going to turn down a homemade meal, so it’s great,” said Atl.
Alt trained for the NFL combine with Training Haus sports performance coach Bill Welle, as well as former Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Alex Boone.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever had somebody at 300 pounds that can move as fluidly as he does in a change of direction,” said Welle.
“It’s the best, just because you know everything coming out of his mouth is the truth, and it’s something that you need to add to your game and take all the drills and knowledge that he’s teaching, that he’s giving you, and you can immediately apply it without question. Like, you know it’s the truth and you want to use it, so it’s been great,” said Alt.
“Strong and powerful, but also his dad taught him a lot on work ethic and how to do things properly,” said Welle.
Alt is also getting help from his dad. Like father, like son, John Alt is a former Columbia Heights star who was drafted in the first round of the 1984 NFL draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.
“He’s been definitely the most helpful person in my life and in my career," Joe said. "His knowledge of the game, him playing, going through basically every step that I’m going through already being through it, he knows what to do and what not to do and has insight through everything."
A 6-foot-8 frame with feet like a gazelle, coupled with an impeccable work ethic and helpful genetics has him projected to become the first offensive lineman that played high school in Minnesota taken in the top 10 since 1950.
“You know it’s definitely exciting," said Joe. "When I do get drafted and hopefully when I go, just be prepared and ready to work and be at my best when my best is needed, and be prepared for that situation."
Joe is excited to be representing the state of Minnesota on a national stage this weekend at the NFL combine in Indianapolis.
“You know, it means a lot," he said. "You know, for me, I always wanted to be that someday, and now hopefully being able to be that for some younger kids from Minnesota, and hopefully seeing somebody doing it is really important for me."
This weekend, just the start of what is sure to be an incredibly exciting next couple of months for Joe and his family.
“I mean it’s going to be extreme excitement," he said. "Just extreme gratitude, God’s put me in this place and all I can really do is give gratitude and gratefulness to him, and I wouldn’t be in this place without him."
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