Alabama Recruiting: Evaluating 2022 5-star EDGE commit Jeremiah Alexander

An in-depth evaluation of Alabama’s 2022 5-star EDGE commit Jeremiah Alexander!

When it rains, it pours. But when it’s Alabama football gaining yet another 5-star recruit, it can seem to other fanbases like more of a supercell thunderstorm, leaving nothing but destruction in its wake.

It’s true that five-star EDGE Jeremiah Alexander committed two months ago, but it’s never too late to provide a proper evaluation prior to his arrival on campus in the Spring or Fall semester of 2022.

Vitals

Height 6-2
Weight 235 pounds
Location Alabaster, AL
Class 2022
Rating 5-star
Rankings No. 11 Overall, No. 1 EDGE (247Sports Composite)

Evaluation

Alexander has an innate ability to diagnose offensive schemes. When reviewing the tape you’ll notice that he stays true to his reads, and covers his assigned gaps efficiently. Rarely will you see a mistake in his consequential first step. He uses his heavy hands to effectively fight off blockers to get in position to make plays. Developmentally he has improved on his pass rush year-after-year, with room to improve even further. Speed and power are not lost in Jeremiah’s game, he is fast off the snap, at an average of 0.64 seconds to cross the line of scrimmage after the snap, by my count. His build is already ideal for the college level at 235 pounds. Expect him to be in the rotation very early for the Crimson Tide.

Where he fits in Alabama’s defense

His current high school, Thompson, runs a defense not unlike the Alabama defense. The setup is a base 3-4 with two gap responsibility for the stand-up linebackers. Alexander has an ideal build and skill-set to be a SAM (or strong-side linebacker) in the Crimson Tide’s base package. At the high school level he has shown that he can cover a tight end in passing situations, push through blockers and disengage on command with his pass rush and fill his assigned gaps in the run game. These qualities are paramount to succeed in the defense he will participate in at Alabama.

Expectations and when he could start

In his first year on campus, it’s possible that he’ll be competing with Drew Sanders and Dallas Turner for a starting spot at SAM. I see him contributing via rotation immediately, however, I don’t expect him to start until he has at least a year under his belt. He has the potential to be an early-round draft pick, easily. All he will have to do is trust the process and buckle down. He needs to be ready and willing to learn and adapt.

This addition to the 2022 recruiting class should be exciting for all Tide fans. The potential in Jeremiah Alexander is immense, and he should not disappoint.

Keep us close for up-to-the-minute recruiting news and updates, and general information.

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