Alford attended Orange High School. He was a three-year starter who was selected First-team All-State, U.S. Army All-American and was listed among the G&W Recruiting Report Top 50 defensive players in the nation.

Alford was a four-year starter for the Nittany Lions. He played in 46 games with 41 starts for the Nittany Lions and recorded 118 tackles (60 solo), 32 tackles for losses and 19 sacks.

He was drafted by the New York Giants in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft. Alford has also been a member of the Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks.

In 2007, Alford served as the Giants’ long snapper during field goal attempts, due to a season-ending injury to Ryan Kuehl.

Alford won Super Bowl XLII in his first season, sacking Tom Brady in the final minute of the Giants’ 17–14 win over the New England Patriots.