Mother of Georgia’s No. 1 prospect would love to see twins stay together in college

Alec Ogletree is ranked as the nation's No. 1 safety by Rivals with 35 scholarship offers, but he says his twin brother may be more talented than him (AJC)

Newnan High’s Alec Ogletree is considered the state’s No. 1 college prospect and holds 35 early scholarship offers. He says his twin brother, Zander Ogletree, may be better than he is, and Zander has been mostly ignored by college scouts.

“The only reason I can think that I have all these offers and [my twin brother] doesn’t is because of height … because he can play, I mean, he’s really, really good ,” said Alec, who was heavily courted by Georgia coach Mark Richt during UGA’s Junior Day. His five early favorites are Miami, FSU, Alabama, UGA and Florida.

The football stars were born two minutes apart on Sept. 25, 1991. Alec has grown to 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, plays safety in high school, and has college coaches drooling with his presence. Zander (the older twin) stands 5-11 and 205 pounds, plays some mean linebacker, and is virtually unknown. Many college recruiting coordinators have yet to put it together that the state’s top prospect has a twin.

“Alec is more reserved, a little on the quiet side and is taller,” said Allyson Ogletree, mother of the twins. “Zander is more outgoing than Alec, he’s the class clown. He’s not as tall, but he’s [bulky] and faster. It has always been that way about both of my boys since birth.”

Zander Ogletree: Getting love from FSU and UGA, and that's about it. So far.

How do the brothers compare on the football field? “People say that Zander has a little better fundamentals, he is better at making tackles in the open field, and is more of a team leader,” the mom said. “Alec is pretty much known for his big hits that can turn a game around, and that’s what got him where he is today with colleges.”

While Alec has hogged the recruiting spotlight, his twin moves around quietly the background unnoticed. However, Zander has no complaints. “”I have no reason to get jealous. We play two different positions. Overall, we’re the same [in terms of talent]. We support each other. We don’t look at each other like ‘He’s the best or I’m the best.’”

“I can’t explain why he has all the offers, and I don’t. But it’s a good thing. I’m happy for my brother, and I know when my time comes, I’m going to get good looks from the colleges, too.”

All the attention from colleges for one son and very little for the other has put their mother in a tough position. But she is determined to have a positive outlook. “We don’t look at Alec’s [35 offers] being a downfall for Zander. We’ve told him whatever will be, will be. We feel that the offers are going to happen for him, too. His brother just put his name on the map first. We tell them to be patient. Zander’s time will come.”

At least one college has finally figured out that if Alec is ranked as the nation’s No. 1 safety prospect by Rivals and his brother is just as talented, then it might be a good idea to recruit the twins together. Florida State just offered Zander, after offering Alec a long, long time ago. The Seminoles were scholarship No. 1 for Zander, who said that UGA called on Wednesday with an invitation to prospect camp. “That’s really about it, as far as serious interest from colleges, FSU and Georgia,” Zander said.

Football is a family affair for the Ogletree family, which would love to see Zander (left) and Alec play ball together in college (Photo submitted by Ogletree family)

You see, that’s the big dream of the Ogletree family. There is nothing they’d like to see more than the boys playing together in college. Alec and Zander have been teammates since the diaper days.

“There is a pretty good chance that’s going to happen, I think so,” Alec said.

“I would love to see them together in college, that’s what we hoping for,” the mother said. “If they go to different schools, they’ll both do fine. But we’d love for them to be at the same school. That would make our entire family very happy.”

Alec’s truckload offers include UGA, Georgia Tech, Florida State, Florida, Miami, Tennessee, North Carolina, Auburn, Alabama, Oklahoma, LSU, Arkansas, South Carolina, Clemson, and Oregon.