Derrick Alexander (wide receiver)
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Date of birth: | November 6, 1971 | ||||||||
| Place of birth: | Detroit, Michigan | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 206 lb (93 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Detroit (MI) Benedictine | ||||||||
| College: | Michigan | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1994 / Round: 1 / Pick: 29 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Derrick Scott Alexander (born November 6, 1971) is a former American football wide receiver of the National Football League. He was drafted in the first round of the 1994 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns and in 2000 set the Kansas City Chiefs record of 1,391 receiving yards in a single season. He is currently employed as an assistant coach in charge of wide receivers at Avila University.
College career
Alexander was a wide receiver for the University of Michigan from 1989-1993. His Junior year (1991) he broke his leg in a game against Boston College which resulted in him taking a redshirt year. After the graduation of Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard, he became the Wolverines top receiver. In his junior and senior seasons he led the team in receptions and receiving yards.[1] In 1993 he had a career game against Illinois, catching seven passes from quarterback and future teammate in the NFL as well, Todd Collins for 188 yards and two touchdowns. His 90-yard touchdown reception stood as the longest completion in Michigan football history until Mario Manningham surpassed it with a 97-yard reception on November 10, 2007 at Wisconsin.[2]
In his final college game, he returned a punt for 79 yards, the longest punt return in Outback Bowl history, as well as the only punt returned for a touchdown.[3]
Alexander was twice named to the All-Big Ten Conference team, and was honored as an All-American in 1992.[2]
Professional career
Cleveland Browns/Baltimore Ravens
Derrick Alexander was taken by the Cleveland Browns with the final pick in the first round of the 1994 NFL Draft. He had an immediate impact, leading the playoff-bound Browns in receiving as a rookie.[4]
Following the 1995 season, the Browns moved to Baltimore and became the Ravens. After playing only sporadically in 1995, Alexander recorded two consecutive 1,000 yard seasons for the Ravens. He is the Ravens all-time leader in yards-per reception (16.6). He also has the most 100-yard receiving games in Ravens history, as well as the longest pass reception.[5]
Kansas City Chiefs
In 1998, he signed as a free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs.[6] Alexander led the team in receiving yards.[7] In 2000, he set a team record for receiving yards in a season, with 1,391.[8] The Chiefs quarterback that year was his former Michigan teammate, Elvis Grbac.
After playing through 2001 with a persistent abdominal injury, Alexander was released by the Chiefs.
Minnesota Vikings
Alexander signed with the Minnesota Vikings prior to the 2002 season.[9] A knee injury ended his season prematurely, and the Vikings released him in the off-season.[10]
Retirement
On July 22, 2003, he signed a one-day ceremonial contract with the Chiefs to retire as a Chief.[11] He ended his career with 417 receptions for 6,971 yards and 40 touchdowns.
NFL stats
| Year | Team | Games | Receptions | Yards | Yards per Reception | Longest Reception | Touchdowns | First Downs | Fumbles | Fumbles Lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | CLE | 14 | 48 | 828 | 17.3 | 81 | 2 | 38 | 2 | 0 |
| 1995 | CLE | 14 | 15 | 216 | 14.4 | 40 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| 1996 | BAL | 15 | 62 | 1,099 | 17.7 | 64 | 9 | 50 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | BAL | 15 | 65 | 1,009 | 15.5 | 92 | 9 | 39 | 1 | 1 |
| 1998 | KC | 15 | 54 | 992 | 18.4 | 65 | 4 | 40 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | KC | 16 | 54 | 832 | 15.4 | 86 | 2 | 31 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | KC | 16 | 78 | 1,391 | 17.8 | 81 | 10 | 55 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | KC | 13 | 27 | 470 | 17.4 | 46 | 3 | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | MIN | 8 | 14 | 134 | 9.6 | 18 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 126 | 417 | 6,971 | 16.7 | 92 | 40 | 291 | 4 | 1 |
See also
References
- ↑ "Michigan Football Statistic Archive". MGoBlue.com. Regents of the University of Michigan. Retrieved 2007-01-20.
- 1 2 "Derrick Alexander, Football All-American". University of Michigan Athletic History. Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved 2007-01-21.
- ↑ "Outback Bowl Individual Records". Outback Bowl.com. Outback Bowl. Retrieved 2007-01-20.
- ↑ "1994 Cleveland Browns statistics". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved 2007-01-21.
- ↑ "Ravens Records" (PDF). Baltimore Ravens 2006 Media Guide. Baltimore Ravens. Retrieved 2007-01-20.
- ↑ "Alexander Is Signed To Pair With Rison". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. 1998-03-03. Retrieved 2007-01-20.
- ↑ "1998 Kansas City Chiefs statistics". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved 2007-01-21.
- ↑ "All-Time Records". KC Chiefs.com. Kansas City Chiefs. Archived from the original on 2006-10-18. Retrieved 2007-01-21.
- ↑ "Alexander signs with Vikings". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. 2002-06-08. Retrieved 2007-01-21.
- ↑ Pasquarelli, Len (2003-08-13). "Moss plan doesn't pan out for receiver". ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved 2009-03-11.
- ↑ "WR Alexander retires with Chiefs". NFL.com. NFL Enterprises LLC. 2005-07-22. Archived from the original on 2006-12-10. Retrieved 2007-01-20.
- ↑ "Derrick Alexander Stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved 6 June 2014.