Thanks for tuning into this exclusive one-on-one interview with DSFL prospect Nero Alexander. After a four-year career at Northwestern University, Alexander has decided to pursue his dream of playing professional football and declared for the DSFL draft.
Can you tell me a little bit about your background as a football player?
Sure. I’m from Chicago and played high school ball at Walter Payton College Prep. I was one of the bigger and faster kids on my team, so I played a lot of different roles on the team. They tried me on offense during fall camp, but I loved hitting people and decided to focus on the defensive side of the ball. I lined up pretty much everywhere in the front seven, but I always had the most fun playing off the edge. I ended up being pretty good at that – I think I still have the school records for most career tackles, sacks, forced fumbles, and fumble recoveries.
So after that stellar high school career, what was the college recruiting process like?
It’s kind of funny, I actually didn’t get that much recruiting attention. Illinois doesn’t pump out as much football talent as some other states so I get it, but I felt a little overlooked. I was only a three-star recruit, and for my junior and most of my senior year I was only getting offers from FCS schools and some MAC teams. I guess some bigger schools missed out on their targets later in the process because I ended up getting late offers from Wisconsin, Vandy, and Northwestern.
What made you decide to play at Northwestern?
Well, it’s really a bunch of different things. First, I’ve dreamed of playing Big Ten ball my whole life – my parents are both Michigan alumni, so I grew up watching a lot of it. Also, I’ve always been pretty focused on academics, with my parents both being teachers and all, and I do pretty well at school so the opportunity to get a degree from a place like Northwestern was tough to pass up. Not to mention that it’s close to home so my parents could get to all my games, and coach Fitz knows how to develop defensive players.
You ended up being a star at NU, but your career didn’t exactly take off from day one. What did it take to get to an All American level?
Yeah, I had a pretty small role my freshman and sophomore years. I was a little slow and not as strong as I needed to be, but Fitz was impressed with my work ethic and technique so I got playing time in most of the games. I ended up with a couple of sacks, mostly thanks to my motor and knowledge of the game. Let me tell you, I wasn’t overpowering offensive linemen back then. After the second offseason in a Big Ten weight room, though, I could tell I was developing and getting to where I needed to be physically. It was really just my persistence and dedication to getting better that made me into the player I am today.
You suffered a gruesome injury at the end of your junior year. What was the process like to come back from that?
Oh man, that was rough. I tore my ACL and missed the last couple of games, and it really killed me to not be able to be out there with my teammates. I hated feeling like I was letting them down, so I focused on my rehab pretty intensely and was able to get back to full strength in time for the next season, which they tell me is pretty fast.
Last season you were second in the conference with 9.5 sacks, led all defensive linemen with 49 tackles and 15.5 tackles for loss, forced three fumbles, recovered two, and batted down six passes. You made the All-Big Ten first team, but missed out on Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and only made the All-America third team. Do you feel like you were snubbed?
Listen, I’m really proud of how I played last year. I had a lot of fun and helped my team make our first-ever conference championship game and New Year’s Six bowl, and that’s good enough for me. I don’t play this game for awards, I play it for myself and for my brothers out there on the field.
The DSFL draft is quickly approaching. Where do you expect to be drafted and what do you think you can bring to your new team?
I have no idea where I’ll be drafted. After my college recruitment process, I’m not too concerned about what other people think of me as long as I get a shot. As for what I can bring? Toughness. Commitment. Discipline. There might be stronger or faster guys out there, but no one will put in more work in the weight room, in the film room, and on every practice rep than me.
Do you have a preferred destination?
I’ll be happy anywhere. I’d love to end up on a team like San Antonio, KC, or Tijuana that’s coming off a great season, but I’d also welcome the opportunity to help take a team like Norfolk to the next level.
Describe your playing style for me. Are there any specific players that you model your game after?
I think I’m a pretty well-rounded player. I get sacks, but I’m not one of those DEs that just pins back his ears and flies at the QB hoping for the sack. I love reading the offense and disrupting the play, whether that’s tackling a running back in the backfield, forcing the QB to panic and bail out of the pocket, or collapsing the edge and making him step up into the defensive tackle’s waiting arms. I also think I win a lot with my technique, balance, and arsenal of moves as opposed to pure speed or power.
In that way, I think I’m a lot like Brandon Graham or Everson Griffen. I’ve heard a few comparisons to Joey Bosa too, but that man is a monster so I’m not ready to put my name next to his just yet.
The depth of talent in this DSFL draft class is nearly unprecedented. Are there any particular prospects you’re looking forward to playing with or against?
I’ve known my man Carlomagno Rey since we were kids back in Chicago and we played together at NU, so I’d love to stick with him. I also think that Bill Inohi and I could look good lined up against each other as it seems like we have pretty similar approaches to the game with well-balanced skillsets and high intelligence. As far as opponents go, I lined up against Gregor Clegaine a few times and he’s always fun to battle, and Apollo Lange looks like a challenge to take down so I’m looking forward to matching up with him.
Well Nero, it looks like that’s all the time I have. Thanks for sitting down with me, and we’re excited to see where you end up. We will watch your career with great interest.
Thank you, this was a lot of fun.
Can you tell me a little bit about your background as a football player?
Sure. I’m from Chicago and played high school ball at Walter Payton College Prep. I was one of the bigger and faster kids on my team, so I played a lot of different roles on the team. They tried me on offense during fall camp, but I loved hitting people and decided to focus on the defensive side of the ball. I lined up pretty much everywhere in the front seven, but I always had the most fun playing off the edge. I ended up being pretty good at that – I think I still have the school records for most career tackles, sacks, forced fumbles, and fumble recoveries.
So after that stellar high school career, what was the college recruiting process like?
It’s kind of funny, I actually didn’t get that much recruiting attention. Illinois doesn’t pump out as much football talent as some other states so I get it, but I felt a little overlooked. I was only a three-star recruit, and for my junior and most of my senior year I was only getting offers from FCS schools and some MAC teams. I guess some bigger schools missed out on their targets later in the process because I ended up getting late offers from Wisconsin, Vandy, and Northwestern.
What made you decide to play at Northwestern?
Well, it’s really a bunch of different things. First, I’ve dreamed of playing Big Ten ball my whole life – my parents are both Michigan alumni, so I grew up watching a lot of it. Also, I’ve always been pretty focused on academics, with my parents both being teachers and all, and I do pretty well at school so the opportunity to get a degree from a place like Northwestern was tough to pass up. Not to mention that it’s close to home so my parents could get to all my games, and coach Fitz knows how to develop defensive players.
You ended up being a star at NU, but your career didn’t exactly take off from day one. What did it take to get to an All American level?
Yeah, I had a pretty small role my freshman and sophomore years. I was a little slow and not as strong as I needed to be, but Fitz was impressed with my work ethic and technique so I got playing time in most of the games. I ended up with a couple of sacks, mostly thanks to my motor and knowledge of the game. Let me tell you, I wasn’t overpowering offensive linemen back then. After the second offseason in a Big Ten weight room, though, I could tell I was developing and getting to where I needed to be physically. It was really just my persistence and dedication to getting better that made me into the player I am today.
You suffered a gruesome injury at the end of your junior year. What was the process like to come back from that?
Oh man, that was rough. I tore my ACL and missed the last couple of games, and it really killed me to not be able to be out there with my teammates. I hated feeling like I was letting them down, so I focused on my rehab pretty intensely and was able to get back to full strength in time for the next season, which they tell me is pretty fast.
Last season you were second in the conference with 9.5 sacks, led all defensive linemen with 49 tackles and 15.5 tackles for loss, forced three fumbles, recovered two, and batted down six passes. You made the All-Big Ten first team, but missed out on Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and only made the All-America third team. Do you feel like you were snubbed?
Listen, I’m really proud of how I played last year. I had a lot of fun and helped my team make our first-ever conference championship game and New Year’s Six bowl, and that’s good enough for me. I don’t play this game for awards, I play it for myself and for my brothers out there on the field.
The DSFL draft is quickly approaching. Where do you expect to be drafted and what do you think you can bring to your new team?
I have no idea where I’ll be drafted. After my college recruitment process, I’m not too concerned about what other people think of me as long as I get a shot. As for what I can bring? Toughness. Commitment. Discipline. There might be stronger or faster guys out there, but no one will put in more work in the weight room, in the film room, and on every practice rep than me.
Do you have a preferred destination?
I’ll be happy anywhere. I’d love to end up on a team like San Antonio, KC, or Tijuana that’s coming off a great season, but I’d also welcome the opportunity to help take a team like Norfolk to the next level.
Describe your playing style for me. Are there any specific players that you model your game after?
I think I’m a pretty well-rounded player. I get sacks, but I’m not one of those DEs that just pins back his ears and flies at the QB hoping for the sack. I love reading the offense and disrupting the play, whether that’s tackling a running back in the backfield, forcing the QB to panic and bail out of the pocket, or collapsing the edge and making him step up into the defensive tackle’s waiting arms. I also think I win a lot with my technique, balance, and arsenal of moves as opposed to pure speed or power.
In that way, I think I’m a lot like Brandon Graham or Everson Griffen. I’ve heard a few comparisons to Joey Bosa too, but that man is a monster so I’m not ready to put my name next to his just yet.
The depth of talent in this DSFL draft class is nearly unprecedented. Are there any particular prospects you’re looking forward to playing with or against?
I’ve known my man Carlomagno Rey since we were kids back in Chicago and we played together at NU, so I’d love to stick with him. I also think that Bill Inohi and I could look good lined up against each other as it seems like we have pretty similar approaches to the game with well-balanced skillsets and high intelligence. As far as opponents go, I lined up against Gregor Clegaine a few times and he’s always fun to battle, and Apollo Lange looks like a challenge to take down so I’m looking forward to matching up with him.
Well Nero, it looks like that’s all the time I have. Thanks for sitting down with me, and we’re excited to see where you end up. We will watch your career with great interest.
Thank you, this was a lot of fun.
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