Alex Boone was born big.
"Two feet tall and 11 pounds," he said. "Growing up, I was always the biggest kid in my classes. About the third grade, I was the biggest kid in my school [St. Mark's].
"By the eighth grade, I was 6-6, 275."
As it turned out, Boone, now a 6-8, 300-pound junior All-Ohio offensive tackle for St. Edward, was destined to do big things.
Along the way, the future Ohio State Buckeye has kept his parents on their toes. If he wasn't skirmishing with his older brother, former Eagles all-state linebacker J.J. Boone, Alex was up to some other backyard adventures such as jumping off the garage roof.
Boone was asked if there were any good childhood stories about him and his older brother. "Just a lot of pushing each other around," he said, "jumping off garages and breaking both of my feet."
Those feet healed just fine and now help support Boone's large and athletic frame. In fact, it is his footwork that has impressed the major-college recruiters.
"Great footwork," said St. Edward offensive line coach Mike Corte. "I think that's why Ohio State fell in love with him so soon."
Although he cannot sign with a college until February 2005, Boone was coveted by the Buckeyes after his sophomore season and gave Ohio State a verbal commitment this past summer.
Boone dislocated his left elbow during the mid-point of the season. The injury forced Boone to sit out the Eagles' game at Massillon during Week 7, but he returned in Week 8 against St. Ignatius.
"He's been playing real well since he came back from the injury," said Corte. "We asked him to switch sides, which is often difficult for a tackle, moving from the left side to the right side. He had to learn all new steps late in the season. It took him a little bit to get used to it, but as the season went on, he progressed."
Things got a little easier for Boone when, after he injured his elbow playing defense, the decision was made to play him strictly on offense, at least until next season.
With the physical attributes being obvious - size, strength and agility - both Corte and St. Edward head coach John Gibbons were looking for something else out of Boone this fall.
"He's turned into a leader on the field," Corte said. "We had an inexperienced group on the O-line this year. So he accepted the role, and I'm pretty sure he knows he has to be our leader for next year."
While Boone's potential appears limitless, there are areas of his game that need some tinkering. Corte wants his big tackle to continue to work on his strength, so he can become even more dominant next year, and to build in some resistance to injuries. Then there are what Corte referred to as "some of the little things."
" Sweat the small stuff,' as we call it," Corte said. "The little steps, hand placement and not getting called for that blatant holding call.
"At 6-8, we want Alex to stay a bit lower on all of his blocks. That way he goes to that next level where, instead of just pushing a guy 2 yards, he puts that guy on his back 5 yards down field."
