Dewayne Alford attended Portsmouth Christian (Portsmouth, VA) for the first two years of high school before transferring to Nansemond River (Portsmouth, VA) before the start of his junior year. Part of the reason for the transfer was to further his development on the gridiron and the 6-2 1/2, 220-pound defensive end, now a Virginia Tech commitment, accomplished his goal.

Transferring "was different," said Alford. "I had to wake up a little earlier for school, for one (laughs). The level of play was higher, so I had to get adjusted to that. I think I got adjusted after the two preseason scrimmages. My new coaches taught me to go faster and harder and to go even harder when I would get tired. My freshman and sophomore seasons, I was not taught that. The coaches at Nansemond River have taught me that I have to go harder and go more than anyone else."