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A steady and productive player, Ed Alford was a three-year starting wide receiver for the California football team from 1985–87. A Mon Valley product from Donora, he emerged as one of the top receivers in the PSAC during his career while competing against some of the top programs in the region.
Alford earned All-PSAC West Second-Team honors as a junior before being named All-PSAC West First-Team as a senior. Over his three seasons as a starter, he totaled 113 receptions for 1,971 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns.
As a sophomore, he recorded 23 receptions for 477 yards and three touchdowns while beginning to establish himself in the passing game. Alford took on a larger role in the offense the following year, as he finished with 35 receptions for 616 yards and six touchdowns. Early in the 1986 campaign, he posted one of the top performances of his career with nine catches for 163 yards and two touchdowns in a 21-0 victory at Westminster (PA), a NAIA national powerhouse at the time.
Alford enjoyed his most productive season as a senior in 1987 when he served as a team captain and earned All-PSAC West First-Team recognition. He ranked second in the PSAC with 55 receptions and 878 receiving yards, while adding four touchdowns. Throughout the season, Alford delivered several key performances, including six catches for 115 yards in a 24-0 win at Lock Haven. He made 10 receptions for 145 yards with two touchdowns on Homecoming in a 31-14 victory over nationally-ranked Millersville.
In his final collegiate game, Alford recorded five receptions for 131 yards with three catches helping set up scores in a 34-0 win over Bowie State in the Jiffy Lube Classic at the historic Memorial Stadium in Baltimore – the former home field of the Baltimore Orioles and Baltimore Colts. The performance capped a strong finish to his career, as the Vulcans won four of their final five games that season.
Alford was also recognized as a Harlon Hill Trophy regional candidate as a senior, highlighting his standing among the best players in the country. He played alongside future Athletic Hall of Fame quarterbacks Brendan Folmar and Sam Mannery, as well as future NFL tight end Terry O’Shea, under the direction of head coach Jeff Petrucci.
Alford earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in management in 1988 before completing his master’s degree in business administration in 1990.
updated April 22, 2026
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