Meet your Miami Dolphins: Kiko Alonso #47

Kristian “Kiko” Alonso (born August 14, 1990) is an American football linebacker for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oregon, and was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

• Height: 6′ 3″
• Weight: 233
• Age: 27
• College: Oregon
• Experience: 5

Early years
Alonso was born in Newton, Massachusetts. His father, Carlos Alonso, was born in Cuba and raised in Puerto Rico. His mother, Monica Alonso, is from Colombia. Kiko has an older brother Carlos Alonso and a younger brother Lucas. Kiko attended Los Gatos High School in Los Gatos, California. He led the De Anza League and Central Coast Section in tackles his senior year with 150 stops (81 unassisted). He also tallied double figures in tackles in 10 of 12 games, finished third on the team in quarterback sacks, and led the Wildcats in receiving (35 catches, 559 yards). He led Central Coast’s sixth-ranked team to the league title (10–1–1) in 2007, with its lone loss his final year coming against Gilroy (40–34) in the sectional semifinals.

Rated a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, he was rated the No. 47 inside linebacker in the class of 2008, behind Etienne Sabino (No. 1), Dont’a Hightower (No. 15), and Stevenson Sylvester (No. 26). He accepted a scholarship offer from Oregon over a scholarship offer from Utah.

College Career
Alonso attended the University of Oregon, where he played for the Oregon Ducks football team from 2008 to 2012. After redshirting in 2008, he spent the 2009 season as Oregon’s primary reserve middle linebacker. He appeared in the final twelve games, accumulating 13 of his 16 tackles unassisted. In 2010, he spent the entire season suspended from the team for a DUI and other legal troubles. He returned the following season and was Oregon’s eighth-leading tackler ranked fourth among linebackers with 46 stops, including 6 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. He was also named the 2012 Rose Bowl Defensive Player of the Game with one interception and five tackles, including career-highs of 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss. In his final season, he started in all 13 games and earned second team all-conference honors. He recorded 87 total tackles (62 solo, 25 assisted), including 16 tackles for loss, a sack, four interceptions, seven pass deflections and two forced fumbles.

Professional Career
On March 9, 2016, the Eagles traded Alonso, cornerback Byron Maxwell, and a first round draft pick to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for the Dolphins’ first round draft pick. Offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil was later selected by the Dolphins to complete the trade.

Alonso was named the starting middle linebacker for the Dolphins to start the 2016 season, he started 15 games with 115 total tackles, 2 interceptions and a defensive touchdown against the San Diego Chargers in Week 10.

On March 9, 2017, the Dolphins placed a first-round tender on Alonso. On March 21, 2017, Alonso signed a four-year, $28.9 million contract with the Dolphins through the 2020 season.

In Week 8 of 2017, Alonso drew criticism for a hit on Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, which put Flacco in concussion protocol. The league conducted an investigation to determine if Alonso should be suspended, but decided not to suspend him. On November 3, Alonso was fined $9,115.