Jon Alston

Infobox NFLactive

---

currentteam=Oakland Raiders
currentnumber=55
currentposition=Linebacker
birthdate=birth date and age|1983|6|4
birthplace=Shreveport, Louisiana
heightft=6
heightin=0
weight=225
debutyear=2006
debutteam=St. Louis Rams
college=Stanford
draftyear=2006
draftround=3
draftpick=77
pastteams=
* St. Louis Rams (2006)
* Oakland Raiders (2007-present)
status=Active
nfl=ALS204770

Jonhenri Alston (born June 4, 1983 in Shreveport, Louisiana) is an American football linebacker for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Stanford.

Early years

Alston grew up in Bastrop, Louisiana, but moved to Shreveport, Louisiana shortly before high school. He got his first taste of organized football in his freshman year of high school at Loyola College Prep. Jon excelled in football, earning All-District honors in his sophomore, junior year, and All-State his senior year alongside fellow standout, Cassidy King. [cite web|url=http://gostanford.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/alston_jon00.html|title=Stanford Cardinal Bio|accessdate=2008-04-15]

College career

Alston went on to play college football for the Stanford Cardinal. Finished in the top 10 career Sack leaders in Cardinal History with 21.5. Was a 3rd Team All American Selection in 2004, and 2nd Team All Pac-10 Selection in College. One of the Most Athletic Linebackers in all of football, posting a 4.40 40 yd dash and 41 in vertical leap at the 2006 NFL Combine.

Professional career

t. Louis Rams

Alston was drafted in the third round (77th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams. On September 1, 2007, he was released by the Rams.

Oakland Raiders

On September 3, 2007, Alston was signed to the Oakland Raiders' practice squad. He was then promoted to the active roster after Travis Taylor was released. He played in 13 games in the 2007 season for the Raiders, recording 8 tackles and 1 forced fumble. [cite web|url=http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/7826|title=Yahoo! Sports|accessdate=2008-04-15]

On March 27, 2008, Alston was re-signed as an exclusive rights free agent by the Raiders for the 2008 season. [cite web|url=http://www.contracostatimes.com/49ers/ci_8727060|title="Quarterbacks Meyer, Otis sign with Raiders"|publisher=Contra Costa Times|date=2008-03-27|accessdate=2008-04-15] [cite web|url=http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=Nfl&id=3716|title=RotoWorld|accessdate=2008-04-15] After linebacker Robert Thomas was waived/injured on September 2, Alston switched from No. 94 to Thomas' No. 55.

External links

* [http://www.raiders.com/Team/PlayerBio.aspx?id=30876 Oakland Raiders bio]
* [http://gostanford.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/alston_jon00.html Stanford Cardinal bio]

References