Derrick Alexander (wide receiver) facts for kids
Alexander with the Chiefs
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| Avila Eagles | |||||||
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| Position: | Head coach | ||||||
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| Born: | November 6, 1971 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 206 lb (93 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Benedictine (Detroit) | ||||||
| College: | Michigan | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1994 / Round: 1 / Pick: 29 | ||||||
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| Head coaching record | |||||||
| Career: | 6–14 (.300) | ||||||
| Player stats at PFR | |||||||
Derrick Scott Alexander (born November 6, 1971) is an American college football coach and former professional player. He is currently the head football coach for Avila University. He has held this position since 2023. Alexander used to play as a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL).
Alexander played college football for the Michigan Wolverines from 1989 to 1993. He was named first-team All-Big Ten in both 1992 and 1993. The Cleveland Browns picked him in the first round of the 1994 NFL draft. He played nine seasons in the NFL. His teams included the Cleveland Browns (1994–1995), Baltimore Ravens (1996–1997), Kansas City Chiefs (1998–2001), and Minnesota Vikings (2002). In 2000, he set a Kansas City Chiefs team record. He gained 1,391 receiving yards that season.
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Early Life and High School Sports
Alexander was born in Detroit in 1971. He went to Benedictine High School. There, he played football, basketball, track, and baseball. In basketball, he was a forward and scored about 19 points per game. He also earned second-team All-Catholic honors in 1989.
In track, he was very fast. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds. He won the Class B Michigan championship in the 200-meter race. He also won the Catholic League finals in the 100-meter sprint. His mother, Marion, encouraged him to play many sports. She believed it kept him out of trouble.
Alexander was most successful in football. At Benedictine, he played many roles. He was a running back, wide receiver, and safety. He also returned punts and kickoffs. In his senior year, he ran for 877 yards. He also caught 40 passes for over 1,000 receiving yards. After his senior season, he was named a top player in Michigan.
In January 1989, Alexander was ranked high among Michigan's football prospects. Many colleges wanted him to play for them. He signed with the University of Michigan in February 1989.
Playing for the Michigan Wolverines
Starting Years (1989–1991)
Alexander started at the University of Michigan in 1989. As a freshman, he caught six passes for 107 yards. He also scored one touchdown.
Before his second year, Alexander received Michigan's No. 1 jersey. This jersey was given to the team's best receivers. He played well, catching 31 passes for 450 yards. He scored six touchdowns. He also returned 13 kickoffs, averaging 27.8 yards per return.
In 1991, Alexander got hurt in the first game against Boston College. He tore a ligament in his left knee. He had surgery and missed the rest of the 1991 season.
Comeback Season (1992)
Alexander returned from his injury in 1992. He caught 50 passes for 740 yards. He scored 11 receiving touchdowns. He also ran for 60 yards and one touchdown. He returned 26 punts for an average of 14.3 yards. Two of those punt returns were for touchdowns.
Against Minnesota on October 24, he caught seven passes. He gained 130 yards and set a Michigan record. He scored four touchdown catches in that game. At the end of the season, he was named a first-team receiver. He was also named to the All-America team.
Final College Season (1993)
In 1993, Alexander caught 35 passes for 621 yards. He scored four touchdowns. He also returned 16 punts for an average of 10.2 yards. Two of these punt returns were for touchdowns.
Against Illinois on October 23, he caught seven passes for 188 yards. He scored two touchdowns. One of his touchdown catches was for 90 yards. This was the longest catch in Michigan football history for many years.
In the 1994 Hall of Fame Bowl, Alexander played his last game for Michigan. He returned a punt for a touchdown. This was the first time a Michigan player returned a kick or punt for a touchdown in a bowl game.
Michigan Career Highlights
Alexander played in 44 games for Michigan. He caught 125 passes for 1,977 yards. He scored 22 touchdowns. He also returned 42 punts for 534 yards and four touchdowns.
Playing in the NFL
Cleveland Browns (1994–1995)
The Cleveland Browns picked Alexander in the first round of the 1994 NFL draft. He was the 29th player chosen. As a rookie, he led the Browns with 48 catches for 828 yards. The 1994 Browns had a good season, winning 11 games. After the season, Alexander was named to the 1994 NFL All-Rookie Team.
In 1995, Alexander did not play as much. He started only two games. He caught 15 passes for 216 yards. He scored one touchdown on a 69-yard punt return.
Baltimore Ravens (1996–1997)
After the 1995 season, the Browns team moved to Baltimore. They became the Ravens. Alexander became a starter again. He caught 62 passes for 1,099 yards. His average of 17.7 yards per catch was one of the best in the NFL. On December 2, 1996, he caught seven passes for 198 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week.
Alexander had another great season in 1997. He gained over 1,000 receiving yards again. He also had the longest catch in the NFL that year. It was a 92-yard touchdown catch against the Seattle Seahawks.
Kansas City Chiefs (1998–2001)
In March 1998, Alexander signed a contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. He joined his college quarterback, Elvis Grbac, there. In 1998, Alexander led the Chiefs with 992 receiving yards. He averaged 18.4 yards per catch.
In 1999, he started 15 games for the Chiefs. He caught 54 passes for 832 yards.
Alexander had his best season in 2000. He started all 16 games. He caught 74 passes for 1,391 yards. This set a Chiefs team record for receiving yards in a single season. This record stood until 2018.
In 2001, an Achilles injury affected Alexander's play. He finished the season with 27 catches for 470 yards.
Minnesota Vikings (2002)
In 2002, Alexander signed a contract with the Minnesota Vikings. In November, he tore a ligament in his left knee. He had surgery later that month. He missed the rest of the season. He finished the year with 14 catches for 134 yards and one touchdown.
Alexander could not run until July 2003. He tried to play for the Vikings again but was released in August 2003.
Retirement from Playing
On July 22, 2005, Alexander signed a special one-day contract with the Chiefs. This allowed him to officially retire as a Chief. He ended his NFL career having played in 126 games. He caught 417 passes for 6,971 yards and 40 touchdowns. He also had 210 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. He scored one touchdown on a punt return.
Coaching Career
After his playing career, Alexander worked in information technology. He was a systems analyst for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City from 2006 to 2011. Then, he worked as a systems engineer for Cerner Corporation until 2015.
He later joined a coaching internship program for former NFL players. In 2015, he coached wide receivers at Wilmington College. From 2016 to 2018, he was the offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Avila University in Kansas City.
In March 2019, he became an assistant coach at Morgan State University. He was the team's pass game coordinator and wide receivers coach.
Alexander was hired by Avila University to be their head football coach for the 2023 season. He continues in this role today.
See also
- Lists of Michigan Wolverines football receiving leaders
