Tag: Deslin Alexandre

Packers training camp roster preview: DE Deslin Alexandre

Continuing on in our Green Bay Packers training camp roster preview, here is a closer look at defensive end Deslin Alexandre.

Training camp for the Green Bay Packers begins on July 22nd. Between now and then, I will be previewing each player on roster with a look back at their 2023 season, along with what to expect in 2024.

Up next is defensive end Deslin Alexandre, who the Packers signed to a futures deal earlier this offseason.

2023 Stats to know: Alexandre did not play any regular season NFL snaps last season.

What to know from 2023: Alexandre went undrafted last April after playing five seasons at Pittsburgh. Alexandre is a good athlete, recording a Relative Athletic Score of 8.41. During his time at Pitt, Alexandre played 1,767 snaps, with nearly all of them coming at edge rusher. The 27 pressures he recorded in 2022 were a career-high, as were his seven sacks, according to PFF. Alexandre was a sound tackler and capable against the run, according to PFF’s metrics.

“Alexandre is an edge defender who relies on his broad frame and natural power,” wrote NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein in his pre-draft report. “He’s long and naturally heavy handed, but he will need to play with much better bend to improve his ability to hold the point against the run.

“While he’s a segmented mover at times, he does have quick feet and shows decent pursuit quickness and motor. He’s a face-up rusher who is unlikely to beat NFL opponents with crafty moves and counters, so fortifying his power rush will be critical as a Day 3 possibility for 4-3 defenses.”

In 2023, Alexandre won the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award, which is presented to the football player “who best demonstrates an outstanding record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity, and sportsmanship.”

Alexandre bounced around last season, spending time with the New York Jets and Chicago Bears.

Looking ahead to 2024: As is the case for just about any player signed to a futures deal, making the 53-man roster will be an uphill battle, especially at defensive end where four spots are already accounted for by Preston Smith, Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, and JJ Enagbare. The Packers also have Brenton Cox, who has been the fifth member of that rotation during OTAs, along with Arron Mosby and Keshawn Banks returning.

The ceiling for Alexandre this season is likely the practice squad and a key factor in making that unit will be showing that he can contribute on special teams. The pads aren’t on yet, so everything this time of year needs to be taken with a grain of salt, but Alexandre has already flashed a few times. During the second OTA practice open to the media, Alexandre had two potential “sacks” against the second and third-team offenses during a two-minute drill.

Chiefs to host Pittsburgh DE Deslin Alexandre on top-30 visit

The #Chiefs are getting their top-30 visits underway as they’re set to host a high-character defensive lineman from the Pittsburgh Panthers.

The Kansas City Chiefs are getting top-30 visits started with a highly-decorated defensive lineman from the University of Pittsburgh.

According to The Draft Network’s Ryan Fowler, the Chiefs are slated to host Pitt DE Deslin Alexandre on a top-30 visit this upcoming week. A two-time team captain, three-time All-ACC Academic Team selection, and four-year starter for the Panthers, Alexandre was named the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year in 2022. It’s an honor awarded annually to an FBS player who, “best demonstrates an outstanding record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity, and sportsmanship.”

A fifth-year senior in 2022, the 6-foot-4 and 285-pound Alexandre recorded 131 total tackles, 29.5 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, seven passes batted, two fumbles recoveries, an interception and a safety during his five seasons at Pitt. His performance against Syracuse this season solidified him as a bit of a one-man wrecking crew.

If you’re unfamiliar with top-30 visits, here’s the rundown. NFL teams are allotted 30 visits reserved for draft prospects with whom they’re interested in getting to know better. In some cases, the team is using their visit on a player who wasn’t invited to the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. That’s the case with Alexandre. Really, it’s an opportunity for teams to fill in some blank spaces on their scouting reports.

During a top-30 visit, prospects will have a chance to tour team facilities and meet with position coaches, front office executives and scouts. On occasion, they’ll get a chance to meet with a few players who are working at the team facility. Some guys the team will bring in to get more medical information. Other guys will be brought in so teams can get an idea of whether they’ll fit the team culture.

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Jason Witten presents Pitt DE Deslin Alexandre with Collegiate Man of the Year Award

Deslin Alexandre used NIL opportunities to set up a program to benefit children in his native Haiti and was a two-time Panthers captain. | From @ToddBrock24f7

Cowboys legend Jason Witten was back at The Star in Frisco this week to hand out the award that literally has his name all over it.

The tight end presented the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award to Pitt defensive end Deslin Alexandre. It’s the sixth year for the honor, which seeks to recognize the FBS player who “best demonstrates an outstanding record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity, and sportsmanship.”

The Haitian-born Alexandre has exhibited all of those things in abundance, using his own NIL opportunities to establish a program that provides basic needs like meals and education for children back in his native land. He’s also donated considerable time to Pittsburgh’s Ronald McDonald House, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, literacy promotion efforts, outreach programs that aid the homeless, and a local youth football team.

A three-time member of the All-ACC Academic Football Team, Alexandre earned his bachelor’s degree in communications and is currently pursuing an MBA in Pitt’s Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business.

“He is a great leader and a role model for young athletes,” Witten said of Alexandre in a press release. “He came to the U.S. from Haiti at a young age and overcame a lot of challenges to become a great player and leader, both on campus and in the community. He is a perfect example of what a college student-athlete can be.”

The 24-year-old’s collegiate coach echoes those sentiments.

“I don’t think there are enough superlatives to describe Deslin and his achievements while at the University of Pittsburgh,” Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi said. “His impact as a student, athlete, and community leader is so inspiring. He represents the absolute best of what it means to be a Pitt Panther.”

Alexandre has also been a shining example on the football field. As a fifth-year super-senior in 2022, the two-time captain and three-year starter recorded 29 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two pass breakups, and a safety. He helped propel the Panthers to back-to-back Top-25 seasons and an ACC championship over his time at Pitt. All that, despite not playing organized football until his junior year of high school.

As the winner of the award, Alexandre will have a $10,000 contribution made in his name to Pitt’s athletic scholarship fund, courtesy of Jason and Michelle Witten.

 

From an original group of 20 semifinalists for the honor, Alexandre joined Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford and Oregon offensive lineman Alex Forsyth as the three semifinalists for the first college football award to focus primarily on a player’s leadership achievements.

“I’m honored to be associated with the award in that regard and proud of who they are and what they stand for,” Witten said of the trio, per the Cowboys website. “In the midst of this crazy world, to see these young athletes take advantage of their platform and give back to the less fortunate… It’s really cool.”

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