Mark Alt3, Zack Hill.JPG

Flyers defense prospect Mark Alt (middle), son of former NFL star offensive lineman John Alt, had a solid first pro season playing for the Adirondack Phantoms.

(Zack Hill/Flyers)

PHILADELPHIA – Flyers defenseman prospect Mark Alt seemed destined for a career in football.

A big fellow at 6-foot-3, Alt quarterbacked his high school football team to a Minnesota state championship throwing his senior year, throwing for 26 touchdowns and running for six.

His school, Cretin-Derham Hall High in St. Paul, is known for quarterbacks. Steve Walsh, a former University of Miami star who played in the NFL, played there. So did Chris Weinke, a Heisman Trophy winner at Florida State. Joe Mauer, now a baseball star for the Minnesota Twins, was a great quarterback there, too.

Alt was good enough that the University of Iowa and University of Kansas offered football scholarships.

While deciding what to do, Alt was encouraged to go to Iowa by his father.

No surprise there.

His father is a pretty famous Iowa alum. John Alt went on to become an NFL star and a Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Famer as a 6-foot-8, 300-pound offensive tackle who played in three Pro Bowls from 1984-96.

Mark Alt, also pursued in football by the University of Kansas, disappointed his father by choosing hockey.

"I absolutely pushed football," John Alt told Minnesota Daily in 2011. "It's much more of an intense game to me and (Mark) was a big factor in every play of the game.

“He went from playing quarterback — he was involved in every single play of the offensive game — to having to decide if he would play hockey … and he would be more of a defensive player.”

Four years later, it appears Mark Alt made a good choice, as he looked like he's developing into an NHL player this season playing his first pro season in the AHL for the Adirondack Phantoms, the Flyers' top farm team.

Alt hasn’t gotten much attention because three of the Flyers’ best prospects are defensemen, but he's probably the closest to being NHL ready.

A former high draft pick by Carolina, Alt has made a big strides since being traded to the Flyers organization in January 2013. He's not going to hit like 2013 No. 1 draft pick Sam Morin or create offense like Shayne Gostisbehere, but he's a big guy who moves well and plays a pretty sound defensive game.

Here is a closer look at Mark Alt in the third of a series on Flyers' prospects:

VITALS

Position: Defenseman

Age: 22 (23 on Oct. 18)

Height: 6-foot-3

Weight: 201 pounds

Hometown: Kansas City

Acquired: Traded with G Brian Boucher from Carolina for C Luke Pither on January 13, 2013.

Contract: Signed three-year, entry-level contract in April 2013. Two-way contract can be worth up to $2.7 million. Makes $67,500 in minors. Contract carries $781,667 NHL cap hit.

2013-14 AHL stats: 4 goals, 22 assists, 26 points, 31 PIM, minus-16 in 75 games for Adirondack Phantoms.

THE SKINNY

Began this season paired with Matt Konan and ended playing with 2013 second-round draft pick Robert Hagg, who joined the team for the final 10 games after his Swedish Elite League season ended. ... Selected in 2nd round of 2010 draft, 53rd overall, by Carolina Hurricanes. ... Scored 7 goals, 32 assists and 39 points in 117 career collegiate games over three seasons at the University of Minnesota from 2010-11 to 2012-13. Was a plus-18 in each of his two final college seasons. … Debuted as a pro by playing six AHL games late into the '12-13 season and impressed defense partner Andreas Lilja, a veteran of 580 NHL games. "I think he's going to be something special," Lilja told The (N.Y.) Saratogian in April 2013. "I think he's really, really good." … Graduated high school in 2010 with a 4.0 average. … Was a finalist for Minnesota Mr. Hockey as a senior in high school. … Alt started playing hockey at age 5 after a neighbor unloaded a car trunk full of equipment in his driveway. ... Had first pro fight against Brandon Mashinter of the Hartford Wolfpack on Oct. 11.

WATCH VIDEO OF ALT'S FIRST FIGHT

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

Terry Murray, Phantoms head coach: "Mark's an excellent skater when it comes to speed, and that's where the game is today. You've got to be able to bring that. His game this season, I think he really got an understanding of what it's going to take in order for him to be a player at the NHL level. Halfway through the year he'd already played the number of games in a season that he played in college, so this was quite a test for him to bring it every day. I really like his approach to the game. He's very professional. He brings an attitude every day that he has to do the right stuff to get prepared for the practice or game. He plays with high intensity and really cares about his game and his teammates. He's a real good team guy. He pays attention to the detail part of the game, and as a defenseman that's what you have to do. I liked his progress. I think he's on track. He's more comfortable now with the puck on this stick. In the second half of the year, he was carrying the puck out of problems and getting it out of his own end using his speed and his quickness. And I used him on the power play all season. That was something that he was not doing in college. He started to feel comfortable on the power play. He's a right shot and he prefers the right side on the power play, but when he is on the other side for a one-timer, he can shoot the puck. He's got a great shot. He's an interesting player because of his size and speed. He's definitely a prospect."

Chris Pryor, Flyers director of scouting: "In the order of things, the defensemen usually take a little bit longer to develop than the forward, and in Mark's case that probably holds true. He's coming along nicely after being willing to give up a year of college to come with us. He has a great attitude and a great work ethic. He's a big kid. He moves really well. He's learning the game. Mark's put his time in and he's continually gotten better. He's probably never going to be a high offensive guy, but he's simplified his game and he's involved enough to where he gets to pucks and makes a good play. From a defensive side, if you can do that, you're going to give yourself a chance to play in the NHL."

PART I: JASON AKESON "has to learn to play without the puck"

PART II: ROBERT HAGG played with men in Sweden, then didn't miss a beat in AHL

PART IV: TYRELL GOULBOURNE wants to turn pro, but hasn't accepted AHL contract