Rufus Alexander
Encyclopedia
Rufus Alexander is an American football
linebacker
who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings
in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Oklahoma
.
Alexander has also played for the Indianapolis Colts
.
Brent Venables
in December 2001. The Sooners offered Alexander a scholarship and he chose Oklahoma over several other offers.
Sooners
football team from 2003 to 2006. In 2006, Alexander was named to the All-Big 12 First Team, the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, and an AP
and AFCA
All-American.
in the sixth round (176th overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft
. Alexander was injured in the Vikings first preseason game of 2007 and suffered a torn ACL, resulting in season-ending surgery.
After the 2008 preseason, Alexander was released. He was re-signed to the practice squad on September 23. The Vikings promoted him to their active roster on October 19 when they waived linebacker
Erin Henderson
. The Vikings waived Alexander two days later and re-signed Henderson. Alexander was signed back to the practice squad on October 23.
on December 2, 2008. On December 26, 2008, he was cut from the Colts' active roster and then signed back onto the Colts' practice squad on December 30, 2008.
Following the season, he was re-signed to a future contract on January 5, 2009. He was waived by the team on May 4.
on August 28, 2009. He was cut by the Lions on September 5, 2009.
.
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...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft
2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
. 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...
at Oklahoma
Oklahoma Sooners football
The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
.
Alexander has also played for the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
.
Early years
Alexander was raised by a mother who worked all of the time to support her family while his father was in prison. His oldest brother was in and out of legal trouble and the middle brother was following suit. Alexander met the Barham family, David and Melinda, while he was in junior high. In need of a stable living environment, the Barhams spoke to Alexander's mother, Siene, about having Alexander move in with them. The Barhams never legally adopted Alexander. David Barham accepted a job as the football coach at Christian Life Academy in Baton Rouge, LA and he brought Alexander with him. Alexander became a dominant player, leading his team to district titles his junior and senior year. Barham began to actively pursue colleges on his behalf as Alexander was listed as a top 20 high school linebacker. Barham initiated contact with Oklahoma's defensive coordinatorDefensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
Brent Venables
Brent Venables
Thomas Brent Venables is an American college football coach.He is currently the associate head coach, defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for the University of Oklahoma Sooners football team. In 2006, he was one of five finalists for the prestigious Broyles Award for the nation's top...
in December 2001. The Sooners offered Alexander a scholarship and he chose Oklahoma over several other offers.
College career
He played for the University of OklahomaUniversity of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
Sooners
Oklahoma Sooners
The University of Oklahoma features 19 varsity sports teams. Both men's and women's teams are called the Sooners, a nickname given to the early participants in the land rushes which initially opened the Oklahoma Indian Territory to non-native settlement. They participate in the NCAA's Division I-A,...
football team from 2003 to 2006. In 2006, Alexander was named to the All-Big 12 First Team, the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, and an AP
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
and AFCA
AFCA
AFCA can refer to:* AFC Ajax* A.F.C. Aldermaston* Air Force Communications Agency* American Football Coaches Association* American Foundation for Children with AIDS* Antique Fan Collectors Association* Australian Film Critics Association...
All-American.
Minnesota Vikings
Alexander was drafted by the Minnesota VikingsMinnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
in the sixth round (176th overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft
2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
. Alexander was injured in the Vikings first preseason game of 2007 and suffered a torn ACL, resulting in season-ending surgery.
After the 2008 preseason, Alexander was released. He was re-signed to the practice squad on September 23. The Vikings promoted him to their active roster on October 19 when they waived linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Erin Henderson
Erin Henderson
Erin Henderson is an American football linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Maryland.-Early years:...
. The Vikings waived Alexander two days later and re-signed Henderson. Alexander was signed back to the practice squad on October 23.
Indianapolis Colts
Alexander was signed off the Vikings' practice squad by the Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
on December 2, 2008. On December 26, 2008, he was cut from the Colts' active roster and then signed back onto the Colts' practice squad on December 30, 2008.
Following the season, he was re-signed to a future contract on January 5, 2009. He was waived by the team on May 4.
Detroit Lions
Alexander signed with the Detroit LionsDetroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
on August 28, 2009. He was cut by the Lions on September 5, 2009.
Personal
He is a cousin of NFL safety Gerald AlexanderGerald Alexander
Gerald Alexander is an American football safety who plays for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was selected from Boise State in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft as the 61st overall selection.-Early years:...
.