Position: | Running back | ||
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Personal information | |||
Date of birth: | November 24, 1983 | ||
Place of birth: | Fort Worth, Texas | ||
Height: | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
Weight: | 175 lb (79 kg) | ||
Career information | |||
High school: | Denton HS | ||
College: | Houston | ||
Undrafted: | 2008 | ||
Career history | |||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||
Career highlights and awards | |||
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Career NFL statistics | |||
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Player stats at NFL.com |
Anthony Eugene Alridge (born November 24, 1983) is a former professional gridiron football running back. He was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Houston.
Alridge was also a member of the Houston Texans, the Washington Redskins and the Toronto Argonauts.
Alridge was born to Vincent and Lisa Aldridge in Fort Worth, Texas, where he grew up. He is the oldest son with two sisters and a younger brother. His dad is the pastor of Friendly Fellowship Church of God in Christ in Fort Worth, Texas where Anthony grew up playing the drums for his church.
Alridge played for the Denton High School football team as an all-purpose back. During his time at Denton, Alridge was named Honorable Mention AP 4A All-State, selected to the Max Emfinger Texas Super All-State Team, picked Texas Sports Writers Association Third-Team, All-State and named District 6-4A Offensive Player-of-the-Year.
Alridge chose to attend the University of Houston where he was redshirted as a freshman; he was initially recruited as a wide receiver.
He was not enrolled at the university for the 2004 season and sat out the year. In 2005, as a wide receiver, he appeared in all 12 games, starting six games. He was the Cougars leading receiver at yards per catch with an average of 22.7. During this season, the Cougars played in the Fort Worth Bowl.
Alridge was approached after the 2005 season and asked if he would be interested in playing significant time at running back. Alridge agreed and finished the 2006 season with 959 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on only 95 attempts for an NCAA Division 1-A leading rushing average of 10.1 yards per attempt. The Cougars went on to earn a Conference USA championship, and played against the SEC's South Carolina Gamecocks in the 2006 Liberty Bowl.