When you look at him, Jeremiah Alexander does not look like your typical Alabama outside linebacker.
He does not stand at 6-foot-4 and possess an 83-inch wingspan. He does not have a long frame and looks like he could be a tight end on the offensive side of the football. He has a rather stocky build at 6-foot-2 and 235 pounds instead and looks more like an inside linebacker.
So why has he been tabbed as possibly being the next great Alabama outside linebacker?
The answer to that question is an easy one when you analyze how Alabama football uses its outside linebackers and Alexander’s play on the field. Alabama’s best outside linebackers have been known for their ability to wreck havoc off the edge. They are tenacious in their pursuit of the football and impact the play whether they make the tackle or not.
Alexander checks those boxes in every way. It starts with his unbelievable strength and explosiveness as an edge rusher. He has the power to completely run through block attempts by offensive linemen and running backs in pursuit of the football. This was on full display when I saw him during the Thompson-Hewitt-Trussville game earlier this year.
Alabama LB commit, Jeremiah Alexander has played absolutely violent through two quarters. His combination of speed and strength when coming off the edge is difficult to contain.
His pursuit of the football has also stood out. pic.twitter.com/9Uxa7gwJ28
— Justin Smith (@Jdsmith31Smith) September 18, 2021
Alexander obliterated blockers to make some key sacks and tackles for loss throughout the night. He was able to use his explosive first step to put linemen on their heels and finished several plays by bull-rushing potential blockers to get to the football.
Explosive power is not the only attribute that makes Alexander one of the top players in the country. It is actually just the top layer of his extensive game. The Alabaster-native sees rushing the passer as an art form and the bull rush is just the first stroke of his brush.
“It definitely helps to be in the weight room,” said Alexander. “We were always in the weight room at Thompson. I like to set them up a lot with the bull rush and when they sit down, I like to bring out the other things. It comes pretty naturally to me. I have been doing it since my freshman year of high school.”
The Alabama signee used this technique throughout his time in Orlando at the Under Armour All-America practices last week. He had multiple top-ranked linemen going backward as he attempted to run through their blocks for most of his first reps. The moment one offensive lineman showed he was expecting it, Alexander baited him outside as if he was going to go around him and spun inside for one of his most impressive reps of the week.
Alexander’s balance of knowing when to attempt to run through a block, spin, drop his shoulders or delay his rush on a stunt makes him unpredictable as an edge rusher. He also has experience at working off another talented defensive lineman as he and 2023 five-star defensive end, Peter Woods, were one of the top high school defensive line duos in the country during the 2021 season.
Another part of his game that Alabama will appreciate is Alexander’s ability to drop back in coverage to defend the flat in zone coverage, which eliminates the need to sub him for a more athletic player. He will not be uncomfortable when he is put into the open field against speedy running backs. He knows how to break down and make effective open-field tackles.
Alexander will have an opportunity to work alongside and behind a couple of former five-star players at Alabama, and he is optimistic about learning from some of the guys in front of him as the Tide plans to line him up jack linebacker and allow him to get after the football.
“Watching guys like Dallas Turner and Will Anderson with Dallas playing as a freshman, it really definitely gives me high hopes because we are pretty close,” Alexander said.” I know when I come in mid-year and do what I need to do, I will become the best player I can be.”
Watch Some Highlights From Jeremiah Alexander’s Senior Season Below:
Alexander will arrive in Tuscaloosa this month as an early enrollee in search of destruction and disruption.
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Justin Smith is a Scouting/Recruiting analyst for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via @Jdsmith31Smith
