alonso.JPG

Kiko Alonso

(Associated Press)

Kiko Alonso remembers what it was like. His nerves weren't a jumbled mess, mainly because he kept the NFL Draft in perspective: No matter where he was picked, or by which team, he still had a top objective.

"I had to prove myself on the field," Alonso says a year after he was the 46th overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. The Buffalo Bills selected the linebacker from the Oregon Ducks and though he wasn't exactly an afterthought, no one could see what would come next.

Alonso finished second in the running for the NFL’s 2013 Defensive Rookie of the Year award, only four votes behind New York Jets’ defensive end, Sheldon Richardson. As the 2014 NFL Draft kicks off Thursday with the first round, followed by the remaining rounds on Friday and Saturday, Alonso is reminded that no player’s success is determined solely on what selection he becomes at Radio City Music Hall.

“I was really looking forward to making a name for myself,” he said.

He did that and more, and now is preparing for a follow up year, although this time, in new defensive coordinator’s Jim Schwartz’s 4-3 alignment, Alonso moves from middle linebacker to the weakside, where he may be even more comfortable. That makes room for free agent signee Brandon Spikes. Alonso collected 159 tackles, intercepted four passes and tallied two sacks in 2013. This season brings a different alignment, but no fewer expectations.

“I was pleased with how I did, but when I watch film, I see that I left a lot of plays out there,” Alonso said. “…I don’ think (switching positions) is a huge change. It’s still a lot of similar stuff because a lot of time I’m in the box.”

One major emphasis going into 2014 is training his body to be even more physically fit. He’s using Per4M sports performance equipment to help increase his power, agility and “to be a great athlete.”

“To be the best of the best, you have to focus on everything,” he said. “Everyone you go against makes a living playing football, so you have to love training.”