Just shy of one and a half years ago, Kiko Alonso@@checked@@was booked into Lane County Jail, accused of burglary, criminal trespass and criminal mischief.
Kiko Alonso sacks Keith Price during Oregon’s 52-21 victory over Washington. (Alex McDougall/Emerald)
It wasn’t the first incident for the University of Oregon middle linebacker. A year earlier, he faced a DUII suspension and a torn ACL — his poor luck and poorer decisions combining to keep him from the field. Alonso’s May 1, 2011, arrest couldn’t have come at a worse time, either. Oregon head coach Chip Kelly, already feeling heat from other players’ off-the-field indiscretions, had held a press conference hours earlier to announce a crackdown on misbehavior.
It’s impossible to know how the notoriously private Los Gatos, Calif., native envisioned his future. But certainly few around him could’ve predicted this.
On Saturday against Washington, the senior had one of the best games of his career: a team-high 10 tackles (three and a half of them for a loss), one sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He now leads the team this year in tackles, tackles for a loss and quarterback hurries. He’s also tied for the team lead with safety Avery Patterson@@checked@@ and cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu@@checked@@ with his pair of interceptions.
“Kiko Alonso, he’s all over the field,” defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti@@checked@@ said. “I mean, if I had Kiko’s body, I’d be making movies.”
The 6-foot-4, 242 pound force has been asked to step up this year, especially since fellow starting linebacker Michael Clay@@checked@@ suffered an undisclosed leg injury in Oregon’s win over Washington State two weeks ago. And while Alonso has declined media requests throughout the season, it’s his play on the field that has made a statement this year.
If his Renaissance continues, expect to hear his name called early in next year’s NFL Draft.
