The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Coming a long way: Ben Alexander
08.23.2009 | Football
Aug. 23, 2009
By: Ryan Graney, Texas Media Relations
When the Texas defensive tackles coach Mike Tolleson stopped by T.L. Hanna High School in Anderson, S.C., his goal was to recruit DT Ben Alexander. During that trip, not only was he able to do that, but he was also introduced to one of Alexander's friends.
"One of the neatest things that ever happened for me was when I went up and recruited him, the movie Radio had come out," Tolleson remembers. "It was his high school that Radio was a manager for the football team. So, I got to meet him. Ben introduced me to him. He was there at the school. I enjoyed the movie, so getting to meet the guy first hand kind of bonded us a little bit."
As a prep All-American, a number of coaches from across the country made the trip to South Carolina in an attempt to win Alexander over. With his sights set on becoming a standout collegiate defensive tackle, the history of exceptional defensive linemen at The University of Texas caught Alexander's eye.
"I remember going and seeing the All-American pictures and the pictures in our defensive meeting room and seeing those guys who had been here before." Alexander recalls. "It was a pretty easy decision."
Alexander, a senior, has played behind the likes of NFL players Frank Okam, Derek Lokey, and Roy Miller in his time at Texas and realizes the task of replacing so many talented players.
"I have big shoes to fill," Alexander admitted. "Roy was an awesome player. You've got Derek Lokey, Frank Okam, those guys in the middle before them, they were great players."
Alexander played in 10 of the team's 13 games last season and appreciates the opportunity he has to make even more of an impact.
"I always try to work as hard as I possibly can," Alexander said. "There's a little added pressure, because I'm going into my senior year, and having to replace great defensive lineman like we had last year, but everyone's got to step up."
Tolleson has seen Alexander's strong work ethic from the off-season translate into improved play in fall camp, praising the improvement in his ability to rush the passer in addition to his already solid run defense.
"Ben is having a great camp," Tolleson said. "He's working hard. We as a defensive line always have to be sure that we're in shape, don't get too heavy and those kind of things. He's done a great job of that."
Fellow senior DT Lamarr Houston has also noticed the amount of work Alexander put in to be ready for the season.
"He's worked all summer," Houston said. "He's got his weight down. He's been running and training. He's doing well."
Beyond X's and O's, Tolleson appreciates the leadership qualities Alexander has developed entering his senior season.
"He'll take guys under his wing," Tolleson said. "We've been together so long now that if he sees something that he knows I want, he'll kind of pull them over and talk to them. He's a student of the game. He studies hard and takes notes in meetings. The guy is pretty special along those lines."
As Tolleson enters his 12th season at Texas, he has had the opportunity to coach a number of the defensive tackles who have had successful careers at Texas. He has seen Alexander applying a great amount of what he has learned from those players.
"He's had some great role models, examples to learn form along the way," Tolleson said. "I think it means a lot to him that he's been able to play with those guys and learn from them. Now he's a senior, and he's in that role. I think he's taken it and run with it."
Even beyond those he has played with, Alexander remembers the lineage of great defensive tackles and sees their success in the NFL, which was one of the key reasons he chose to attend a school halfway across the country.
"Guys like Casey Hampton, Marcus Tubbs, Shaun Rodgers, all those guys, just the tradition of those first guys that came here really attracted me to the school," Alexander said. "It's a great tradition, and it's a high standard. I'm just excited about trying to keep up that tradition."
