[2] Alvarez was the Pioneers' star halfback who could run and catch, and was touted by the local newspapers as the best back in Dade County—on offense and defense.

[4] During Graves' final season as Florida's head coach in 1969, Alvarez was one of several talented second-year Gators known as the "Super Sophs" who led the team to its then all-time best record of 9–1–1.

He was able to come back in 1971, but played sparingly, although against the University of Maryland, he had 10 receptions for 134 yards, including a spectacular 16-yard touchdown, helping the Gators win 27–23.

Although Florida has fielded many prolific offenses including 17 All-American receivers and three Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks since Carlos Alvarez last played in 1971, he is still the Gators' record holder for pass receptions in a single game (15), in a single season (88), and career receiving yards (2,563)[4][7]/ At the end of his three-year college career, Alvarez held many Gator and SEC pass receiving records, including career, season and game pass receptions and yardage records.

The 88 catches in 1969 had been exceeded up to that season by only three players in the history of college football (Howard Twilley -Tulsa, Glen Meltzer – Wichita State, Jerry Hendren – Idaho).

Was in the top 5 in the SEC for season receiving yards in 1969 (1), 1970 (5) and 1971 (4) despite severe knee injuries in 70 and 71 and a coaching change that led to a more run oriented offense.

The Dallas Cowboys selected him in the fifteenth round (390th overall pick) of the 1972 NFL draft, hoping he could return to health, but he did not sign a contract because of his chronic knee injuries.

He received an NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship Award to attend the Duke University School of Law in Durham, North Carolina, and earned his juris doctor (J.D.)

[10] Alvarez is an environmental and land use attorney based in Tallahassee, Florida, but his current practice emphasizes mediation, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution.

[16] In October 2020, ESPN SEC Storied series broadcast a documentary on Carlos Alvarez titled, "The All-American Cuban Comet".

It covers approximately the first 22 years of Alvarez' life and his desire to become an American citizen after leaving Cuba at the age of 10 and how football became part of that struggle.