Charles Alexander (defensive tackle)
Encyclopedia
Charles Gabriel Alexander (born October 9, 1985) is an American football
defensive tackle who is currently a free agent
of the Arena Football League
. He was signed by the Spokane Shock
as a street free agent in 2010. He played college football
as a defensive tackle for the LSU Tigers
from 2004 to 2009.
. He played high school football for Breaux Bridge High School and was selected as a first-team 4A all-state player and named to the Baton Rouge Advocate Super Dozen and New Orleans Times-Picayunes Top 20 Blue-Chip list. He was also selected as the Louisiana District 4-5A Defensive MVP as a senior. He made 111 total tackles, including six for losses and five sacks, in 2003.
by Nick Saban
as part of his final recruiting class at the school and announced his commitment to LSU in November 2003. Alexander played parts of six seasons with the LSU Tigers football
team, including the 2007 national championship team.
He played the 2005 season as a redshirt freshman for LSU. However, he missed all but one game due to injuries.
He began the year as a starter on the defensive line for the 2007 LSU Tigers football team
that won the 2008 BCS National Championship Game
. He made four tackles in the team's opening game against Mississippi State
. With Alexander in the lineup for the first three games, LSU won all three games by more than 40 points and allowed just seven total points in the three games. The Tigers were particularly dominant stopping the rush, allowing only 30 rushing yards per game with Alexander in the lineup in 2007.
However, his 2007 season ended with a knee injury suffered in a practice session prior to the game against South Carolina
. At the time of the injury, LSU Sports Information Director Michael Bonnette described Alexander as a popular player on the team whose attitude would be missed. Bonnette added that the team was exploring options such as a medical redshirt or an additional year of eligibility for Alexander. LSU's rush defense "was never the same without the 6-foot-3-inch, 310-pound Alexander," as it allowed 126 rushing yards per game the rest of the season. LSU co-defensive coordinator Doug Mallory described the loss of Alexander, "We got off to a great start at the beginning of the year. You can’t downplay the loss of Charles Alexander. He was playing extremely well at the beginning of the season."
The injury proved to be a tear of Alexander's anterior cruciate ligament
(ACL). In August 2008, after months of rehabilitation, Alexander said, "When they told me I had torn my ACL, I was devastated, just absolutely crushed. But things happen for a reason. I just had to realize that and start focusing on coming back." Alexander suffered a further injury during summer practice in 2008, but was determined to make a comeback.
Alexander played in 13 games for the 2008 LSU team, including eight as a starter. He recorded 24 tackles, including one sack. Alexander noted that he considered himself fortunate to have returned from the injury: "In a way [the injury] made me better mentally knowing that everything is not given to you on a silver platter. Being able to go out there and practice with my teammates is a blessing. Not too many people come back positive from an ACL [injury]." In an interview with The Daily Reveille
, Alexander noted the strength of LSU's defensive line in recent years and suggested that, iff Penn State is Linebacker U. and USC is Halfback U., then LSU should be known as "Defensive Line U": "This is officially now Defensive Line University. We have a stockpile of guys who can play good football here, and it's becoming a tradition."
In January 2009, Alexander applied to the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility. After reviewing Alexander's documentation and considering the time he lost due to injuries, the NCAA granted him an additional year of eligibility. On learning of the NCAA's decision, LSU head coach Les Miles
issued a press release stating, "We are very happy that the NCAA ruled in favor of Charles. He deserved to get the chance to play another season at the collegiate level. He will be a big part of our defense next year so we're glad to get him back." A feature story in The Advocate, the daily newspaper in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
, noted: "The dream, ideal, feel-good scenario is for LSU defensive tackle Charles Alexander to finally have this one great season that makes good on the struggles of his five previous and injury-plagued years."
In August 2009, The Times-Picayune of New Orleans, Louisiana
published a feature story on Alexander. The story emphasized Alexander's run of bad luck:
As a sixth-year senior in 2009, Alexander was the only returning starter on LSU's defensive front, and a second-team selection on the All-Southeastern Conference
Coaches Preseason team. He started all 13 games at defensive tackle and had 29 tackles and one sack for the Tigers. He was one of the leaders for the 2009 LSU defense that ranked No. 11 in the nation in scoring, allowing 16.0 points per game. In October 2009, LSU was ranked No. 4 in the country when they played the top-ranked Florida Gators
led by Tim Tebow
. After chasing Tebow in the game, Alexander said, "He came out there and gave a great effort. He is one of the greatest college football players to play the game." Also in October 2009, a nationally-syndicated newspaper story on the LSU noted that the defensive front was loaded with talent, including Alexander. Alexander was quoted in the story as follows:
His final game for LSU was the Capital One Bowl against Penn State on January 1, 2010. As he prepared to play in his final game for the Tiger, Alexander told The Times-Picayune, "Finally, I see the end of the tunnel. Nothing ever lasts forever. I've loved every minute of it. My teammates are like my brothers, and now I'm trying to enjoy every moment knowing there's only a couple of days left."
Between 2004 and 2009, Alexander played in 43 games for LSU and had 89 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
In January 2010, Alexander accepted an invitation to play in the 2010 Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Game
in El Paso, Texas
on February 6, 2010.
. He signed a contract as a free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles
on April 26, 2010. On April 30, 2010, Alexander reportedly did not pass his physical with the Eagles and was removed from the roster.
of the Arena Football League
on December 7, 2010.
with two other players on February 24, 2011, in exchange for claim order position. After he was initially placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list on March 4, Alexander was placed on Injured Reserve
on March 10. Alexander remained on Injured Reserve all season.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
defensive tackle who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
of the Arena Football League
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It is currently the second longest running professional football league in the United States, after the National Football League. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster...
. He was signed by the Spokane Shock
Spokane Shock
The Spokane Shock is a professional arena football team of the Arena Football League from Spokane, Washington, USA. They play their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena...
as a street free agent in 2010. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
as a defensive tackle for the LSU Tigers
LSU Tigers football
The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
from 2004 to 2009.
Early years
Alexander is a native of Breaux Bridge, LouisianaBreaux Bridge, Louisiana
Breaux Bridge is a city in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population is 8,139 as of the 2010 census. It is part of the Lafayette Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. He played high school football for Breaux Bridge High School and was selected as a first-team 4A all-state player and named to the Baton Rouge Advocate Super Dozen and New Orleans Times-Picayunes Top 20 Blue-Chip list. He was also selected as the Louisiana District 4-5A Defensive MVP as a senior. He made 111 total tackles, including six for losses and five sacks, in 2003.
LSU Tigers
He was recruited to attend Louisiana State UniversityLouisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
by Nick Saban
Nick Saban
Nicholas Lou "Nick" Saban is the head coach of the University of Alabama's Crimson Tide football team. Saban has previously served as head coach of the National Football League's Miami Dolphins and three other NCAA universities: LSU, Michigan State and Toledo...
as part of his final recruiting class at the school and announced his commitment to LSU in November 2003. Alexander played parts of six seasons with the LSU Tigers football
LSU Tigers football
The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
team, including the 2007 national championship team.
He played the 2005 season as a redshirt freshman for LSU. However, he missed all but one game due to injuries.
He began the year as a starter on the defensive line for the 2007 LSU Tigers football team
2007 LSU Tigers football team
The 2007 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University during the college football season of 2007–2008, winning the Southeastern Conference championship and the national championship. The team's Head Coach was Les Miles who entered his third year at the helm of LSU Football...
that won the 2008 BCS National Championship Game
2008 BCS National Championship Game
The 2008 Allstate BCS National Championship Game was played at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Monday, January 7, 2008, and featured the #1 and #2 college football teams in the United States as determined by the BCS Poll to decide the BCS National Championship for the 2007...
. He made four tackles in the team's opening game against Mississippi State
2007 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team
The 2007 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team represented Mississippi State University during the 2007 college football season. The team's head coach was Sylvester Croom, who served his fourth season in the position...
. With Alexander in the lineup for the first three games, LSU won all three games by more than 40 points and allowed just seven total points in the three games. The Tigers were particularly dominant stopping the rush, allowing only 30 rushing yards per game with Alexander in the lineup in 2007.
However, his 2007 season ended with a knee injury suffered in a practice session prior to the game against South Carolina
South Carolina Gamecocks football
The South Carolina Gamecocks football team represents the University of South Carolina in NCAA Division I college football. The Gamecocks have been a member of the Southeastern Conference since 1992. Steve Spurrier is the current head coach, and the team plays its home games at Williams-Brice...
. At the time of the injury, LSU Sports Information Director Michael Bonnette described Alexander as a popular player on the team whose attitude would be missed. Bonnette added that the team was exploring options such as a medical redshirt or an additional year of eligibility for Alexander. LSU's rush defense "was never the same without the 6-foot-3-inch, 310-pound Alexander," as it allowed 126 rushing yards per game the rest of the season. LSU co-defensive coordinator Doug Mallory described the loss of Alexander, "We got off to a great start at the beginning of the year. You can’t downplay the loss of Charles Alexander. He was playing extremely well at the beginning of the season."
The injury proved to be a tear of Alexander's anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
(ACL). In August 2008, after months of rehabilitation, Alexander said, "When they told me I had torn my ACL, I was devastated, just absolutely crushed. But things happen for a reason. I just had to realize that and start focusing on coming back." Alexander suffered a further injury during summer practice in 2008, but was determined to make a comeback.
Alexander played in 13 games for the 2008 LSU team, including eight as a starter. He recorded 24 tackles, including one sack. Alexander noted that he considered himself fortunate to have returned from the injury: "In a way [the injury] made me better mentally knowing that everything is not given to you on a silver platter. Being able to go out there and practice with my teammates is a blessing. Not too many people come back positive from an ACL [injury]." In an interview with The Daily Reveille
The Daily Reveille
The Daily Reveille is the student newspaper for Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and has kept student informed for more than a century. It prints Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the summer semester...
, Alexander noted the strength of LSU's defensive line in recent years and suggested that, iff Penn State is Linebacker U. and USC is Halfback U., then LSU should be known as "Defensive Line U": "This is officially now Defensive Line University. We have a stockpile of guys who can play good football here, and it's becoming a tradition."
In January 2009, Alexander applied to the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility. After reviewing Alexander's documentation and considering the time he lost due to injuries, the NCAA granted him an additional year of eligibility. On learning of the NCAA's decision, LSU head coach Les Miles
Les Miles
Leslie Edwin "Les" Miles, nicknamed "The Mad Hatter", is an American college football coach and the current head coach of the Louisiana State University football team. Prior to holding that position, he was head coach at Oklahoma State...
issued a press release stating, "We are very happy that the NCAA ruled in favor of Charles. He deserved to get the chance to play another season at the collegiate level. He will be a big part of our defense next year so we're glad to get him back." A feature story in The Advocate, the daily newspaper in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
, noted: "The dream, ideal, feel-good scenario is for LSU defensive tackle Charles Alexander to finally have this one great season that makes good on the struggles of his five previous and injury-plagued years."
In August 2009, The Times-Picayune of New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
published a feature story on Alexander. The story emphasized Alexander's run of bad luck:
"LSU defensive tackle Charles Alexander is hoping the sixth time is the charm. Burly and soft-spoken, Alexander opened his sixth fall practice at LSU on Thursday hoping the balance of breaks swings toward lucky after five years of bad ones. Injuries and surgery have slowed his progress just when he starts to get a head of steam."
As a sixth-year senior in 2009, Alexander was the only returning starter on LSU's defensive front, and a second-team selection on the All-Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
Coaches Preseason team. He started all 13 games at defensive tackle and had 29 tackles and one sack for the Tigers. He was one of the leaders for the 2009 LSU defense that ranked No. 11 in the nation in scoring, allowing 16.0 points per game. In October 2009, LSU was ranked No. 4 in the country when they played the top-ranked Florida Gators
Florida Gators
The Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
led by Tim Tebow
Tim Tebow
Timothy Richard "Tim" Tebow is an American football player who is currently the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Broncos as the 25th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft...
. After chasing Tebow in the game, Alexander said, "He came out there and gave a great effort. He is one of the greatest college football players to play the game." Also in October 2009, a nationally-syndicated newspaper story on the LSU noted that the defensive front was loaded with talent, including Alexander. Alexander was quoted in the story as follows:
"We're going to play intense style of football. We'll make sure we impose our will on our opponent, strike guys and get off the block and make plays. We don't want to over pursue players or under pursue. Just rally 11 guys to the ball."
His final game for LSU was the Capital One Bowl against Penn State on January 1, 2010. As he prepared to play in his final game for the Tiger, Alexander told The Times-Picayune, "Finally, I see the end of the tunnel. Nothing ever lasts forever. I've loved every minute of it. My teammates are like my brothers, and now I'm trying to enjoy every moment knowing there's only a couple of days left."
Between 2004 and 2009, Alexander played in 43 games for LSU and had 89 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
In January 2010, Alexander accepted an invitation to play in the 2010 Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Game
Texas vs. The Nation Game
The NFLPA Game is a post-season college football all-star game that was established in 2006 as the concluding game of the college football post-season. The game is currently played at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The game was previously known as the Texas vs...
in El Paso, Texas
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
on February 6, 2010.
Philadelphia Eagles
Due to concerns over his injury history, Alexander was not selected in the 2010 NFL Draft2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
. He signed a contract as a free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on April 26, 2010. On April 30, 2010, Alexander reportedly did not pass his physical with the Eagles and was removed from the roster.
Spokane Shock
Alexander signed with the Spokane ShockSpokane Shock
The Spokane Shock is a professional arena football team of the Arena Football League from Spokane, Washington, USA. They play their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena...
of the Arena Football League
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It is currently the second longest running professional football league in the United States, after the National Football League. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster...
on December 7, 2010.
Pittsburgh Power
Alexander was traded to the Pittsburgh PowerPittsburgh Power
The Pittsburgh Power is an Arena Football League team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that began play in March of 2011. The team plays its home games at the new Consol Energy Center, which they share with the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League...
with two other players on February 24, 2011, in exchange for claim order position. After he was initially placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list on March 4, Alexander was placed on Injured Reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
on March 10. Alexander remained on Injured Reserve all season.