Stanford defensive playmaker Jon Alston puts a hit on Washington State quarterback Josh Swogger in a game earlier this season

Check out what one of Stanford's top defensive playmakers had to say in his chat session Thursday.

Stanford, Calif. - Junior outside linebacker Jon Alston made a special visit to the gostanford.com chat room on Thursday, November 11 to continue a series of weekly chats with Cardinal football players throughout the 2004 campaign. The chat series is one element of the in-depth, detailed and exclusive coverage of the 2004 Stanford Football team featured on the Cardinal Commitment page of gostanford.com. Other features on the page include press releases, a behind the scenes look at the Stanford Athletics Department staff, promotion and ticket information, Buddy Teevens' press conferences, player reports, assistant coaching reports, and of course, Gameday Central every Saturday for all Stanford Football games.

Check below to see what Alston had to say.

Alston has been a key member of a Stanford defense that ranks second in the Pac-10 and No. 23 nationally in turnover margin (+.67), as well as third in the Pac-10 and No. 26 nationally in scoring defense (18.67 ppg). Alston, who benefited by moving into a starting position when the Cardinal switched to a 3-4 defensive alignment this season, has made the most of his added playing time by leading the team and ranking tied for seventh in the Pac-10 with 11.5 tackles for loss. He also paces the club and ranks tied for third in the Pac-10 with 8.0 sacks after making a career-high 4.0 sacks in Stanford's most recent game at Arizona State (November 6). He totaled 5.0 tackles for loss versus the Sun Devils, while also forcing and recovering a fumble. He has forced a team-leading three fumbles in 2004 and recovered a pair. Alston ranks third on the club in overall tackles (54) and tied for third in solo stops (34). Alston's top tackle game this season came when he recorded a career-high 10 at Notre Dame (October 9).

Alston spent his sophomore campaign in 2003 a backup outside linebacker in Stanford's previous 4-3 defensive set, playing in a total of 10 contests. He showed flashes of brilliance as a playmaker, totaling 3.0 sacks and 4.0 tackles for loss among his total of 21 tackles. He had a memorable game in an 18-14 win at Brigham Young (September 20) when he recorded a pair of sacks, including one in the final moments of the contest on a first-and-goal from the Stanford eight-yard line as BYU was driving for a potential game-winning touchdown.

Alston broke onto the scene with the Cardinal as a part-time starter during his redshirt freshman season in 2002, starting in five contests and playing in all 11. He finished the season with 30 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 2.0 tackles for loss and one forced fumble. He recorded a season-high seven tackles in a 16-6 win over Arizona (October 19).

In 2001, Alston redshirted as a true freshman.

Alston has totaled 13.0 sacks and 17.5 tackles among his 105 career total. He also has five forced fumbles and a pair of recoveries.

Born on June 4, 1983, Alston is a Public Policy major and native of Shreveport, LA, where he spent his high school playing days at Loyola College Prep School. Alston was one of the top linebackers in the Southern United States as a senior, making 134 tackles and 21.0 tackles for loss to earn All-Southwest Region (SuperPrep), Class AA All-State, All-City and All-District honors. He was also an All-District running back and a First Team Academic All-State choice as a senior. In addition, Alston earned First Team All-District honors in his sophomore and junior prep campaigns.

Alston and his Cardinal teammates are also hoping to stay in contention for a possible bowl berth when Stanford (4-5, 2-4 Pac-10) hosts Oregon State (4-5, 2-4 Pac-10) in the final home game for 11 seniors this Saturday, November 13 (2:00 pm, PDT). Both teams need to win their final two games of the regular season to reach six wins and become bowl-eligible.

Stanford leads the all-time series between the clubs, 46-21-3. However, Oregon State had the best of things recently in the series with a current three-game win streak against Stanford, including a 43-3 victory in the most recent meeting between the teams on November 15, 2003, in Corvallis. Oregon State also won the most recent game played between the squads at Stanford by a score of 31-21 on November 16, 2002. Stanford's last victory in the series came by a 21-17 count on The Farm during Stanford's most recent Rose Bowl season on October 16, 1999.

For the first time this season, there will be no television broadcast a Stanford football game when the Cardinal and Beavers square off on Saturday. Live audio broadcasts can be heard on the Stanford flagship radio station KNEW 910-AM, KZSU 90.1 FM and gostanford.com, as well as on the Stanford Football Radio Network (KFIA ... 710 AM, Sacramento ... KPSI 920 AM, Palm Springs ... KUIK 1360 AM, Portland).