Despite missing left hand since birth, West Salem defensive end earns college football scholarship to Montana.
Video: Highlights of Alex Hurlburt
One-handed defensive end and linebacker accepts scholarship to Montana.Alex Hurlburt is, of course, going to be compared to Shaquem Griffin.
The athletic defensive end and linebacker for
West Salem (Salem, Ore.) is missing a left hand due to a pre-birth complications. His parents still aren't completely clear the reasons for the defect.
Hurlburt asked only once and moved on. Boy, did he move on.
Last week, Hurlburt accepted a college football scholarship from the University of Montana. Immediately, he was asked if he can at all relate to Griffin, who despite missing a left hand is a reserve linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks after being drafted in the fifth round last May.
"If I had the chance to, I'd love to play at the next level like Shaquem Griffin did," he told the
Oregonian. "Not to be the next Shaquem Griffin, but the first Alex Hurlburt."
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound senior is definitely one of a kind.
Baseball was his first love, but he slowly came around to football. He was no superstar. In fact, he wasn't even slated to start going into his junior season. But he blossomed, then began to dominate, earning Greater Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year status.
According to the Oregonian, he had 26 tackles for loss (71 tackles overall) with seven sacks and 15 quarterback hurries.
Getting a college degree is his No. 1 focus. But the further he advances on the gridiron the more people he will inspire.
"If it doesn't get to that point, I'd like to give back to people in my situation to show you can do anything and that anything is possible," he told the Oregonian. "I want to provide hope."
