D.J. Alexander

Position:
Linebacker
Height:
6-2
Weight:
233
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Palm Desert, Calif.
High School:
Palm Desert HS

OREGON STATE – CAREER: D.J. made 32 career starts … an extremely good athlete with speed and range to make plays sideline to sideline. 2014: Returned from neck surgery in time for full participation in spring drills … one of four returning linebackers with extensive starting experience … started all 12 games for the first time in his career … finished the season with 70 tackles, good for second on the squad … recorded 12.0 tackles-for-loss to tie for the team lead … also tallied a career-best 4.0 sacks … made first career interception at Colorado. 2013: Missed three games – Eastern Washington and Hawai’i due to a right knee sprain; and USC due to stinger … ranked fifth on the squad with 63 tackles … registered 31 tackles in last three games - at Arizona State, Washington and at Oregon … underwent season-ending neck surgery. 2012: D.J. won the vacant starting spot at strongside linebacker during the spring … registered seven tackles, including two tackles-for-loss, in OSU’s season-opening upset of then-No. 13 Wisconsin earning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week in his first career start … notched career-high 14 tackles against Oregon … fifth on the team with 58 tackles and third for tackles-for-loss with seven … forced a fumble against Washington. 2011: D.J. sprained his right elbow in the first fall scrimmage and was unable to return to the field in time for the start of the season … one of 10 true freshmen to play in 2011, an Oregon State record … made college debut against UCLA and made a tackle on kickoff coverage on his first play … made a dramatic impact as a special teams demon … tied for the team lead with eight special teams tackles … played a bit at outside linebacker in a back-up role … set a season-high with five tackles against BYU, including a quarterback sack … recorded four tackles in the Civil War … enrolled at Oregon State in winter term and thus was considered a greyshirt.

PALM DESERT: D.J. played both linebacker and receiver at Palm Desert … co-Desert Valley League MVP as a senior after making 118 tackles, including 12 tackles for loss and seven sacks … All-CIF Eastern Division twice … team captain … standout in track where he broke the school record in the 100 and 200 meters … Rivals tabbed him the 22nd best outside linebacker in the country following his senior season.

PERSONAL: Born Donell Welch on September 30, 1991 in Long Beach, California … son of Eugene and Cindy Alexander … has two siblings … changed his surname from Welch to Alexander prior to the 2012 BYU game in honor of his stepfather … majoring in human development and family science.