 Ali Highsmith Interview Ali Highsmith of LSU came to the NFL Combine as one of the top ranked outside linebackers in the 2008 NFL Draft. But after running a 4.95 in the 40, his status isn't the same. Highsmith spoke to the media before workouts at the Combine. How did you prepare for the Combine? I’ve had people tell me tell me what goes on here from previous people who went to school with me. You originally signed with Miami and backed out. Why? They questioned one of my test scores and gave me the run around about getting in school. I got fed up with it and left and went to LSU. I sat out the following fall and went over there in the spring of 04. On the influence of Alonzo Highsmith It’s helped me out a lot as far as knowing what is expected and him telling me what he looks at within a person when he was recruited and just giving me pointers on what I need to do. On if he likes him playing defense He played defense first. I think he rather me play defense than offense. On LSU’s success helping his draft stock I believe it helps a lot because if you have a good team it means you’ve got good players on that team. If your team is good, people are going to come and watch and see what makes our team so good. On life after winning a national title Autographs everywhere you go. Congratulations everywhere you go. On if playing in the SEC helps players at the next level Competiton in the SEC you had to come play every day and in the NFL you have to come play every day, too. It’s no fall off. You can’t overlook any of your opponents just like in the NFL. Going into the NFL you just have to prepare and focus. On his brother Growing up I looked up to him. He kind of got me into football. Seeing that his own path led him down an alley he couldn’t get out of showed me that you stay on the right path. Just knowing that if I do what I have to do as far as school and football it can take me anywhere. It’s just about getting it done.
Can you play any linebacker position?
Yeah, I played all the linebacker spots at LSU. I just get out there and play. I can fit in anywhere. On playing behind Glen Dorsey Playing behind him it’s like you’re freelancing because everybody is trying to figure out how to block him best. Just keeping those offensive linemen off us just let us go and run around and make plays. It helped us out a lot that everybody was scheming him so much because he was so dominant. It just made things easier for everybody else. On Dorsey’s future With his work ethic and how he approaches the game he can be as good as he wants to be. It’s just about going out there and taking advantage of the opportunity.
What would you say are your strengths and weaknesses?
My greatest strengths are my quickness, my strength and my ability to read plays. Basically the things I need to work on are more like physical play, getting off blocks and things like that.
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