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

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

A Tone-Setter on Defense (High School)

At Oakland Tech, Alonzo established himself as a violent safety who played with high-level instincts and physicality. He flew downhill against the run, delivered punishing hits, and played with the urgency of a true field general. Always around the football, he brought an edge that offenses had to account for on every snap.

He was elite against the run, consistently triggering downhill and finishing plays in the backfield. Alonzo piled up a high number of tackles for loss, showing both anticipation and the willingness to attack blocks and ball carriers with force.

His senior-year defensive Hudl film made the rounds on Twitter, with the entire cut drawing comparisons from football fans to Tyrann Mathieu and Budda Baker. The tone was set immediately — the very first play of the film opens with Alonzo flying in from the opposite side of the field to deliver a massive hit, destroying the ball carrier on contact. That play encapsulated the rest of the tape: relentless pursuit, fearless physicality, and a defender who impacted every level of the field.

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

Beyond his physicality, he showed impressive coverage skills in the secondary, closing windows, reading quarterbacks, and finishing plays on the ball. He totaled seven interceptions across his junior and senior seasons.

Dangerous with the Ball in His Hands (High School)

On offense, Alonzo was just as effective. As a running back, he displayed a blend of elusiveness, vision, and power. He made defenders miss in space, ran through contact, and consistently finished runs with authority.

He refused to go down, regardless of how many defenders were closing in. Alonzo ran with a physical edge, routinely tossing defenders off of him, bouncing off contact, and using a mean stiff arm to create extra yards. On one memorable run, he carried a defensive lineman on his back for nearly 10 yards as the defender latched on in an attempt to bring him down — a sequence that perfectly captured his strength, balance, and competitive edge.

That physicality didn’t limit his explosiveness. In high school, Alonzo also ripped off multiple runs of 90 yards or more, showing the long-speed and finishing ability to turn tough 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, anchoring the offense and producing week after week. Out of the backfield, he was also a legitimate receiving threat, creating mismatches and generating explosive plays in the open field.

Special Teams Impact (High School)

Alonzo’s impact extended to special teams during his high school career, where his film consistently stood out. He blew up returns, made open-field tackles, and brought relentless physicality. He was the type of player who never left the field and never took a play off, providing value in all three phases of the game.

College Career and Development

Alonzo’s versatility carried over to the college level, as he signed with Bethune-Cookman University and played his freshman season at safety at the Division I level. He later returned to California and transitioned back to running back, continuing his college career at Foothill College.

At Foothill, Alonzo re-established himself as a complete offensive player. Now at 200 pounds, he finished his junior college career as a First Team All-Conference selection.

Overall, at the college level, Alonzo proved to be a very shifty and elusive running back with real power, capable of making defenders miss while still finishing runs through contact. His running style closely resembles Isaiah Pacheco — violent through contact, urgent as a runner, and relentless after first contact.

Beyond production, he showed himself to be an elite blocker from the running back position, consistently stepping up in pass protection and punishing 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 — a reflection of the toughness, physicality, and edge he brings every time he touches the ball.

Final Thoughts

Anthony Alonzo is one of Oakland’s most overlooked talents — a complete football player shaped by every phase of the game and every level of competition. And his story is far from finished at the next level.

Former Oakland Tech HS star Anthony Alonzo | d1studentathlete