SOUTH BEND — On his first full day as a professional, Joe Alt broke out the jokes.
The two-time All-America tackle from Notre Dame football regaled the Los Angeles Chargers media crew on Friday afternoon with one-liners about everything from his dad’s massive shoulders to his own chubby youth.
Growing up in a Minneapolis suburb, Alt played quarterback through his sophomore year of high school. What kind of QB was he?
“I was a bigger quarterback,” said Alt, taken fifth overall in Thursday’s first round of the NFL Draft. “Let’s be real. I ran the ball most of the time. I had a decent arm, but it was mostly just running the ball and getting some sweeps out there.”
He gestured to his famous father, Kansas City Chiefs great John Alt, who helped coach his son’s teams from youth ball through high school.
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“He was the one getting me out there on the ball,” Joe Alt said with a laugh. “We made it work.”
The Chargers already have a stud quarterback in Justin Herbert. Perhaps Alt could be an emergency quarterback for new coach Jim Harbaugh?
“I don’t know about that,” Alt said. “I haven’t thrown a football in a long time. I’ve been putting my hand in the dirt instead.”
Playing tight end for a couple of years after a teenaged growth spurt should help Alt make the adjustment to right tackle as a rookie. He also assured reporters that his dad, a 13-year left tackle from 1984-96 who is a member of the Chiefs’ Hall of Honor, would be willing to wear the team colors of his ancient AFC West rival.
“A lot of his games have come back out on YouTube in better quality, and we rewatched them when I was home this training process,” Alt said. “I got to give him a little bit of crap and watch his film and assess the differences in our games.”
Listed at 6-foot-8 and 298 pounds in his playing days, the elder Alt, who turns 62 in May, had to stand on his tiptoes for the obligatory jersey photos with his son (6-9 and 321 pounds).
“My dad had — still does — very, very broad shoulders,” Joe Alt said. “He has the biggest shoulders I’ve ever seen on a man. His ability to clamp guys … is one of the most humbling things for a defensive end.”
The former Irish captain, who has packed on roughly 80 pounds since his recruitment, is still built more narrowly than his old man.
“Just outmuscled up top,” Alt said. “That’s the biggest difference. I like to punch inside because I don’t have as big of shoulders as he did.”
Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for NDInsider.com and is on social media @MikeBerardino.
