|
C/OG, 6'4, 335, 5.2, 395 BP
Memphis, TN
Nickname: Big Sexy
Birthday: 9-28-81
High School: Westwood
HS Mascot: Longhorns
HS Coach: Magellan Askew
HS Position: OT
HS Number: 55
Official Visits: AL,, MSU, Tenn St, Memphis
Second Choice: Mississippi State or Tennessee
Host During Alabama Visit: Will Cuthbert
Committed: 1-29-99
Roommate To Be: Dante Ellington
Academic Status: Qualified
Stats
HS Junior Season
Blocking
HS Senior Season
Blocking
Tackles
Honors
- Two-time All-State
- Three-time All-Metro
- Runnerup City Lineman of The Year
SBR Scouting Report
Great size. Moves well for his current weight but could be
even quicker around 315 pounds. Loads of potential and could play more than
one offensive line position. Played some defense but will definitely project
as an offensive lineman in college.
[Observation: senior game film.]
Stories
Recruiting Tactics Hurt Tennessee
Dennis Alexander was a Tennessee fan. But when it came time to make a choice, the 6'4, 330-pound Alexander chose Alabama over the Vols.
"I was a Tennessee fan since I was in the sixth grade," Alexander says. "But Alabama recruited me a lot longer than Tennessee did."
Shortly after the Vols' national championship victory over FSU in the Fiesta Bowl, Tennessee head coach Phil Fulmer offered Alexander a scholarship, an offer that was very hard to refuse.
"He said that they would redshirt me next year, then I'd have a chance to be the starting center the next season," Alexander says. "They were national champions and I was impressed that I could be a part of their program. Plus, Coach Fulmer has always been my favorite coach."
But a couple of weeks before signing day, Alexander's image of Fulmer changed when he caught wind of the negative recruiting tactics Tennessee was using against Alabama.
"I heard some things that I didn't like," Alexander says. "I called up Coach [Pat] Washington at Tennessee and told him to cancel my visit because I was going to Alabama."
"Saying things like that are a turn off. It usually hurts the people doing it rather than help them."
He Can Play With the Big Boys
Even though Dennis Alexander is 6'4, 335 pounds, nobody thought that he could play with the big boys. But then came the game against top-ranked Melrose.
SBR
Alexander |
"I was always blocking on little guys, which kept me from getting noticed," Alexander says. "But Melrose had David Paine and all those other big-name players."
Alexander knew that if he blocked David Paine, he could block anybody. That night, Alexander blocked Paine pretty well.
"I don't remember him making many tackles, maybe one or two," Alexander says. "He's a great, great player with speed, quickness and everything, but we contained him."
Alexander's performance paved the way for Westwood to pull off a stunning 20-6 upset over Melrose.
After that, everybody knew that Alexander could play with the big boys.
Alexander Knocks LB Cold!
At Westwood HS they still talk about the crushing block that Dennis Alexander laid on a Covington linebacker two years ago in the playoffs.
Westwood, facing a third and three, decided to go with their "bread and butter" -- 24 Power. Alexander's job was to block the backside linebacker.
"I saw him flowing to the play," Alexander says. "His eyes were on the running back."
The linebacker never knew what hit him.
"I blindsided him. They had to stop the game. He was knocked out cold for two or three minutes."
When he came to, Westwood had first down.
Call Us "The Big Red Elephants"
During his official visit to Alabama, Dennis Alexander was surprised to see "Big Al" at the Tide's basketball game against South Carolina.
Ellington & Alexander: Two Big Red Elephants |
"I was wondering what an elephant has to do with the Crimson Tide," Alexander says. "I asked a few people, but nobody could give me an answer."
Alexander figured that if anybody knew the answer it was Mike DuBose. But even DuBose was unsure.
Alexander finally found out that, before becoming the Crimson Tide, Alabama was called the Big Red Elephants.
"With the size we got this year, they should call us the Big Red Elephants again."
"Big Sexy"
On the first day of school this year a few girls were trying to get Dennis Alexander's attention.
"They yelled over to me, 'Hey, Big Sexy.' After that, it just caught on."
Now even strangers call him "Big Sexy."
"People call to interview me and they'll ask for Dennis. I'll say, senior or junior. And they'll say, 'Big Sexy."
"I'm not embarrassed by it. I just laugh it off."
|
