Georgia Southern University Athletics

2021 - First-Team All-American (Pro Football Network)
2021 - All-Sun Belt Conference First Team (Pro Football Network)

2022-23: Played in all 13 games, starting eight … Was on the field for 737 total snaps (557 defense, 180 special teams) … Had 37 tackles, including one for loss … Also had 11 pass break ups and an interception … Got the start at one of the cornerback spots in the opener against Morgan State, posting five tackles … Had a tackle in the win at Nebraska … Got the start at UAB, posting three tackles … Had two tackles against Ball State … Had a tackle and also downed a punt at the 1-yard line against Coastal Carolina … Started at Georgia State and posted three tackles, including one for loss, and two pass breakups … Had four tackles and two pass breakups in the win over No. 25 James Madison … Had three tackles and three pass break ups in the win at Old Dominion … Had four tackles, an interception and a pass break up against South Alabama … Had a pass break up at Louisiana … Had seven tackles against Marshall … Posted a pair of tackles in the overtime win over App State … Posted two tackles and two pass break ups in the Camellia Bowl against Buffalo.

2021-22: A first-team All-American as a special teams player as selected by Pro Football Network … Also named first-team All-Sun Belt by PFN … Played in nine games, starting two … Played 321 total snaps (167 on defense, team-high 154 on special teams) … Posted 25 tackles, one interception and a pass breakup on the season … Had a special teams tackle against both Gardner-Webb and Florida Atlantic … Made the move to cornerback from receiver full-time for the Arkansas game … Tallied two tackles on special teams and one on defense against the Razorbacks … Had two tackles on special teams against Louisiana … Had four tackles and an interception against Arkansas State … Had three tackles at Troy … Posted two stops and a pass break-up at South Alabama … Made his first start at cornerback against Georgia State, posting four tackles … Had four tackles against Coastal Carolina before leaving with an injury … Missed the rest of the season after having ankle and thumb surgeries. 

2020-21: Played in all 13 games, starting one … Saw action on 318 total snaps (200 on offense, 118 on special teams) … Had four catches for 67 yards … Tallied seven tackles and two blocked punts on special teams … Had a 24-yard kickoff return against Campbell in the opener … Played 47 offensive snaps while earning his first career start … Played 20 total snaps against Louisiana … Blocked two punts at ULM to earn Sun Belt Conference Special Teams Player of the Week honors … Was on the field for 21 total snaps against UMass … Had two tackles on special teams and hauled in a 35-yard catch against Troy … The one-handed grab was the No. 2 play on SportsCenter’s Top 10 … Played 18 snaps against Texas State … Had a tackle for a 38-yard loss on a punt play after Texas State’s snapper sailed the snap … Played 13 total snaps at Army West Point … Had a 9-yard catch at Georgia State … Played 19 snaps against Florida Atlantic … Had a 16-yard catch against App State … Had a 7-yard catch and three tackles on special teams against Louisiana Tech in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. 

2019-20: Played in all 13 games, seeing action on 266 plays (181 special teams) … A demon on punt coverage who racked up 10 solo tackles, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble … Also had six receptions for 67 yards and carried the ball twice for 14 yards … Was on the field for 22 special teams plays and two on offense in the opener at No. 6 LSU … Had a tackle on special teams against the Tigers … Was on the field for one offensive, one defensive and 16 special teams plays against Maine … Played seven offensive snaps at Minnesota … Caught a career-high four passes for 24 yards against Louisiana … Also had a fumble recovery on special teams in that game … Had a 2-yard rush at South Alabama … Played 15 total snaps against Coastal Carolina … Was on the field for 23 snaps against New Mexico State … Recovered a fumble on special teams coverage … Had a tackle against No. 20 App State … Had three tackles on special teams against Troy … Had a special teams tackle against ULM … Had a tackle at Arkansas State, as well as two catches for 43 yards … Had a tackle on special teams against Georgia State … Had two tackles and a forced fumble against Liberty in the Cure Bowl … Made the Honor Roll in the spring.

2018-19: Played in 12 games … Was on the field for 167 total plays (158 special teams) … Had a 22-yard catch against Coastal Carolina … Had six tackles on special teams, recovering a fumble and also blocking a punt that was returned for a touchdown at ULM … Returned a kickoff 18 yards at New Mexico State … Recovered a fumble at Texas State on special teams … Made the Honor Roll in the spring for posting above a 3.0 GPA.

HIGH SCHOOL: Ranked the No. 199 “athlete” in the country and the No. 48 player in the state of South Carolina by 247Sports … A first-team selection to the Herald-Journal/GoUpstate All-Area Football Team as an Athlete/Punt Returner … Scored six different ways … Had nine total touchdowns and two interceptions as well as being a standout kick and punt returner … A two-time state champion in the 400 and 200 meters … Holds the South Carolina state record in the 200 … Finished second at 400 meters at the 5A state meet as a junior.

PERSONAL: Born NaJee Garcia Thompson on July 7 in Rutherfordton, NC … Son of Randy and Maria Alford … Has three siblings: Daphne, Talasha and Ronnie.

MAJOR: Interdisciplinary Studies