Q&A: Columbia Heights TE Spencer Alvarez on committing to Gophers

Class of 2022 Columbia Heights TE Spencer Alvarez committed to the Gophers earlier this month. Standing at 6-foot-7 and 248 pounds, Alvarez also excels in basketball and baseball.

We caught up with Alvarez, who Iowa State had interest in and Minnesota State-Mankato wanted, to chat about why he chose the Gophers, his recovery from ACL surgery, and more.

***Click the video box above to watch our conversation with Alvarez and to see him in action***

Alvarez tore his left ACL in a football game last November, but said he’s recovering well and should be good to go for the Hylanders in the fall. While not able to compete at Gophers camp, coach P.J. Fleck and his staff had plenty of video of Alvarez from his sophomore and junior years. In addition, they had him as a camp participant previously.

Columbia Heights school officials noted that it’s been a long time since they’ve had a football player commit to a Power-5 program. We have to go back to the 1980s for the last, with former Kansas City Chiefs OL John Alt in that mix. Before becoming a 1st round draft pick, he starred at Iowa.

Alvarez is the third in-state 2022 commit, joining Alexandria WR Kristen Hoskins and Tracy OL Tony Nelson.