Joe Alt was a three-star recruit out of high school. In three years at Notre Dame, he worked his way up to a unanimous first-team All-American and is about to become a first-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The offensive tackle is a veritable lock to be the first offensive lineman off the board. He's even expected to go among the top-10 picks, an impressive feat given the talent and depth available in this year's class.
A left tackle, Alt should make an immediate impact wherever he goes, which is currently expected to be the Titans as the seventh overall pick, according to Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer.
He won't be in Detroit on Thursday, instead opting to be surrounded by friends and family at home. With that said, get to know who will be surrounding Alt during the NFL Draft.
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Joe Alt family tree
Parents: Carolyn and John Alt
Not much is known about Alt's mother, Carolyn. On the other hand, you may have heard of his dad, John.
John Alt was born in Stuttgart, West Germany, but grew up in the US. He attended Columbia Heights High School in Minnesota and played college football at Iowa. He entered the NFL Draft in 1984 and was drafted by the Chiefs as the 21st overall pick. The rest is history.
As an offensive tackle, John went on to become a second-team All-Pro honoree and a two-time Pro Bowl selection until his retirement in 1996. He was inducted into the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2002.
It's clear where Joe gets his talent, even if there was the pressure to fill his father's shoes. And just like his dad, he didn't become a tackle until he got to Notre Dame. Alt played tight end and quarterback throughout high school, but he knew that with his dad's frame, he should learn to play tackle.
“Having his background has been very helpful for me and he’s taught me so much,” Alt told PFF. “But there’s always a little pressure. Obviously, he was a great player and did a lot. Now I have the lineage, so I want to continue that.”
Alt could have followed his father's footsteps and played at Iowa, as he received an offer from the Hawkeyes, but he instead chose the Irish because of their history and success with offensive linemen.
"I gave him everything I could possibly give him in my head, in my heart, and in my effort. And he's responded. Worked harder than anybody I've seen at any level. He's ready for this. Day 1," John told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
Since his retirement, John began coaching. He was an assistant at Cretin-Derham Hall before joining the Totino-Grace High School staff while Alt played there.
Siblings: Lauren, Julia, Jordyn, and Mark Alt
Alt's siblings keep pretty private lives, but he does have three sisters, Lauren, Julia, and Jordyn, as well as a brother, Mark, according to his Notre Dame profile.
Alt's brother also inherited some athleticism from their father. Mark was an all-state quarterback at Cretin-Derham Hall High School and also received an offer from Iowa. Instead, he pursued hockey, heading to the University of Minnesota to play.
He entered the 2010 NHL Draft and was selected 53rd overall by the Canes. He did not begin playing in the league, however, until 2013 with the Flyers. He also played for the Avalanche and Kings organizations until 2021. He went abroad to Germany to play a partial season with the Straubing Tigers in 2023.
