In 2007, Rufus Alexander sat on the sidelines for an entire football season for the first time since he took up competitive football. He didn’t like it at all.
The former OU Sooner All-American linebacker damaged an anterior cruciate ligament on a punt return in his first pre-season game with the Minnesota Vikings. Hard work and a smart rehabilitation regimen have Alexander prepared to challenge for a starting role on what should be a truly stingy Minnesota defense.
Alexander dedicated his Saturday to passing along some of what he has learned over the years to dozens of Shawnee-area youngsters at the Day of Champions football camp. The event was sponsored by the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and the 14 Foundation, established by former OU All-America/national championship-winning quarterback Josh Heupel and his father Ken.
Alexander said that Day of Champions was an opportunity to share. “I never had anything like this when I was growing up (in the Baton Rouge, La.-area),” Alexander explained. “I know what it feels like (to play in front of a crowd of 90,000), and to pass that on to the younger kids is great.”
“They’re doing great things for kids all over Oklahoma,” he said, in describing the Heupels’ efforts. “They really do have a love for the kids.”
Alexander seems headed into his second shot at a rookie season with a humble attitude that he credits to his mother, step-father, and OU defensive coach/genius Brent Venables. “My focus is just to go in there and make the team, try to get on special teams first,” he said. “What you have to do is what the coaches tell you to do, concentrate on your job and the task at hand.”
The former OU star is tremendously excited about Minnesota’s playoff chances in 2008. The defensive unit has been very good (and improving) the past two seasons. And, with additions such as Alexander and trade acquisition Jared Allen from the Kansas City Chiefs, who led the NFL in sacks in 2007, more improvement is expected.
Alexander is eager to again share a football field with former OU All-America running back Adrian ‘A.D.’ Peterson. Peterson was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2007 and set an NFL one-game rushing record with 295 yards.
“What can you say about Adrian?” Alexander asked. “He’s done it in college; he’s done it in the NFL. He expects great things from himself. With a guy like Adrian in your backfield, the season is always going to be phenomenal, exciting”
Alexander expects great things from an OU Sooners team picked to win the Big 12 South and challenge for a National Championship game berth. When presented with the premise that quarterback Sam Bradford, a hugely pleasant surprise as a freshman in 2007, might be poised to win two Heisman Trophies, Alexander cautioned against overlooking one of Bradford’s backfield mates.
He believes that running back DeMarco Murray, possessor of blinding speed and elusive moves, is on the verge of a huge breakout year in 2008.
When January and February BCS games and the NFL playoffs have written finis to the 2008 season, it should have been an immensely satisfying one for a young man who provided OU fans innumerable gridiron thrills and appears ready to continue that at the top level of the game.
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In 2007, Rufus Alexander sat on the sidelines for an entire football season for the first time since he took up competitive football. He didn’t like it at all.
The former OU Sooner All-American linebacker damaged an anterior cruciate ligament on a punt return in his first pre-season game with the Minnesota Vikings. Hard work and a smart rehabilitation regimen have Alexander prepared to challenge for a starting role on what should be a truly stingy Minnesota defense.
Alexander dedicated his Saturday to passing along some of what he has learned over the years to dozens of Shawnee-area youngsters at the Day of Champions football camp. The event was sponsored by the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and the 14 Foundation, established by former OU All-America/national championship-winning quarterback Josh Heupel and his father Ken.
Alexander said that Day of Champions was an opportunity to share. “I never had anything like this when I was growing up (in the Baton Rouge, La.-area),” Alexander explained. “I know what it feels like (to play in front of a crowd of 90,000), and to pass that on to the younger kids is great.”
“They’re doing great things for kids all over Oklahoma,” he said, in describing the Heupels’ efforts. “They really do have a love for the kids.”
Alexander seems headed into his second shot at a rookie season with a humble attitude that he credits to his mother, step-father, and OU defensive coach/genius Brent Venables. “My focus is just to go in there and make the team, try to get on special teams first,” he said. “What you have to do is what the coaches tell you to do, concentrate on your job and the task at hand.”
The former OU star is tremendously excited about Minnesota’s playoff chances in 2008. The defensive unit has been very good (and improving) the past two seasons. And, with additions such as Alexander and trade acquisition Jared Allen from the Kansas City Chiefs, who led the NFL in sacks in 2007, more improvement is expected.
Alexander is eager to again share a football field with former OU All-America running back Adrian ‘A.D.’ Peterson. Peterson was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2007 and set an NFL one-game rushing record with 295 yards.
“What can you say about Adrian?” Alexander asked. “He’s done it in college; he’s done it in the NFL. He expects great things from himself. With a guy like Adrian in your backfield, the season is always going to be phenomenal, exciting”
Alexander expects great things from an OU Sooners team picked to win the Big 12 South and challenge for a National Championship game berth. When presented with the premise that quarterback Sam Bradford, a hugely pleasant surprise as a freshman in 2007, might be poised to win two Heisman Trophies, Alexander cautioned against overlooking one of Bradford’s backfield mates.
He believes that running back DeMarco Murray, possessor of blinding speed and elusive moves, is on the verge of a huge breakout year in 2008.
When January and February BCS games and the NFL playoffs have written finis to the 2008 season, it should have been an immensely satisfying one for a young man who provided OU fans innumerable gridiron thrills and appears ready to continue that at the top level of the game.
