Difference between revisions of "Nero Alexander"
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Following back-to-back home Ultimus losses, many commentators expected the Wraiths to once again win the NSFC and compete for the league championship in S20. Another 9-4 record placed Yellowknife at the top of the conference with yet another overall first seed in the playoffs. The defense, led by Alexander, ranked second in the league and first in the conference in rush yardage allowed. After handily dispatching the Colorado Yeti by a score of 40-24 in the conference championship game, the Wraiths once again found themselves in the driver's seat for a league title. However, they suffered their largest Ultimus defeat of the current streak against the Austin Copperheads, losing 37-20. | Following back-to-back home Ultimus losses, many commentators expected the Wraiths to once again win the NSFC and compete for the league championship in S20. Another 9-4 record placed Yellowknife at the top of the conference with yet another overall first seed in the playoffs. The defense, led by Alexander, ranked second in the league and first in the conference in rush yardage allowed. After handily dispatching the Colorado Yeti by a score of 40-24 in the conference championship game, the Wraiths once again found themselves in the driver's seat for a league title. However, they suffered their largest Ultimus defeat of the current streak against the Austin Copperheads, losing 37-20. | ||
| + | As the Wraiths headed into S21, they remained a top contender but were widely viewed as on the decline, losing ground to conference foes Colorado and Baltimore. On a personal level, Alexander reached the apex of his career and found himself at the top of the league in terms of most skilled players. Along with newly-converted defensive tackle Giannis Kroustis, he was expecting the finest season of his career, telling reporters "I feel great. I've been around this league for a while now, and I think that the game has slowed down for me to the point where I expect to control the line of scrimmage on every play. There's no one in this league more ready for this season than I am." Unfortunately, the season didn't live up to expectations. Alexander finished with just 1 sack, the fewest of his career, and 7 tackles for loss, the fewest since his rookie season. Yellowknife finished the regular season with a 7-6 record, good for third in the conference and a wildcard playoff slot. When the team got to the postseason, everything turned around. The Wraiths ousted the top-seeded Yeti on the road before squeezing out a tight road win in Baltimore. In these two games, Alexander recorded 15 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble, numbers that far outpaced his regular season per-game production. The Wraiths found themselves in the Ultimus game once again, on the road for the first time in four seasons. The miracle run came to an end in New Orleans, as the Wraiths fell 33-13 to the New Orleans Second Line. | ||
{{NSFL predraft | {{NSFL predraft | ||
Revision as of 22:54, 25 April 2020
 |
| No. 92 – Yellowknife Wraiths | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Defensive End |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | July 7, 2005 (aged 55) Chicago, IL |
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Weight: | 300 lb (136 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Walter Payton College Prep |
| College: | Northwestern University |
| ISFL Draft: | S15 / Round: 1 / Pick: 4 |
| DSFL Draft: | S14 / Round: 2 / Pick: 4 |
| Career history | |
| Roster status: | Active |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Nero Alexander (born July 7, 2007) is an American football defensive end for the Yellowknife Wraiths of the National Simulation Football League. He played college football for Northwestern University (NU).
Contents
Early years
Alexander was born in Chicago, Ilinois on July 7th, 2005. His parents, Carl and Mary Alexander, were both public school teachers, instilling a love of learning in him throughout his childhood. Carl coached Alexander's youth football, baseball, and basketball teams before urging him to focus on football as he approached high school.
Alexander attended Walter Payton College Prep, a magnet school in the Old Town neighborhood on Chicago's north side. He excelled in the classroom and on the gridiron, leading the Grizzlies to a 9-1 record and a conference title in his senior season while also serving as president of the school's Model UN club. Alexander proved to be a versatile player, lining up all over the front 7 during his high school career. In his senior year, he nearly tied the state record with 10 recovered fumbles to go along with 84 tackles, 16 sacks, and three interception on defense. He currently holds school career records for tackles, sacks, forced fumbles, and recovered fumbles.
Despite his high school production, Alexander received limited interest from college football recruiters. He was rated a three-star recruit (#41 DE, #22 in Illinois) by Rivals.com, earning offers to play at academically-minded schools FCS schools such as Cornell, Georgetown, and Villanova as well as non-power FBS programs including Akron, Bowling Green, Northern Ilinois, and Central Michigan. Late in his senior year, however, Alexander received offers from the University of Wisconsin, Vanderbilt University, and Northwestern University. He committed to the Wildcats, citing academic prestige and proximity to home in addition to the opportunity to play in the Big Ten.
College career
Alexander played in 9 games as a true freshman, recording 9 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2.5 tackles for loss.
Alexander became a larger part of the defensive line rotation during his sophomore season, appearing in all 13 games. He recorded 6 tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery in a 34-14 win over the University of Arkansas in the Music City Bowl. He finished the year with 18 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 7 tackles for loss.
Prior to his junior season, starting defensive ends Jon Hader and Aaron Hall departed for the professional ranks. Alexander earned a regular starting role, starting 10 games for the Wildcats before suffering a torn ACL that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. He recorded 27 tackles, 4 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 9 tackles for loss on the season.
Alexander was voted by his teammates as the recipient of the coveted no. 1 jersey prior to his senior season, given to a player who “truly embodies the values and character of the Northwestern football family.” He returned to his full-time starting role and started all 14 games for the Wildcats while leading them to their first-ever Big Ten Championship game and a Citrus Bowl berth. He was named a third team All-American and first team All-Big Ten player after finishing the season with 49 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles, 2 recovered fumbles, and a defensive touchdown.
Alexander graduated from Northwestern cum laude with a major in Economics and a minor in Statistics.
Collegiate statistics
| Nero Alexander | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Solo | Ast | Tot | Loss | Sk | Int | Yds | TD | PD | FR | Yds | TD | FF |
| 2023 | Northwestern | Big Ten | FR | DE | 9 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | Northwestern | Big Ten | SO | DE | 13 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 7.0 | 4.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | Northwestern | Big Ten | JR | DE | 10 | 12 | 15 | 27 | 9.0 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2026 | Northwestern | Big Ten | SR | DE | 14 | 25 | 24 | 49 | 15.5 | 9.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 64 | 1 | 3 |
| Career | Northwestern | 46 | 48 | 55 | 103 | 34.0 | 19.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 64 | 1 | 4 | |||
Professional career
DSFL
Alexander was drafted by the San Antonio Marshals with the 10th overall pick in the historically deep S14 DSFL draft. The San Antonio General Manager was quoted as saying "I almost picked this guy round one, I really did - I did not think he was going to drop. When he fell to me, I was so happy."
Alexander, along with teammates Morgan Marshall, Mo Berry, Quentin Bode, and Walt Green, built a strong S14 draft for San Antonio. Throughout the season, the “Fab V” led the Marshals to the greatest regular season in DSFL history, with a 13-1 record and a DSFL record 205 point differential. The team was eliminated in the SFC championship game by the Tijuana Luchadores after the vaunted defense allowed Luchadores running back Forrest Gump to rush for 160 yards and 2 touchdowns on 14 carries.
Alexander, along with the rest of the Fab V, entered the S15 NSFL Draft and moved up to NSFL teams after one DSFL season.
NSFL
Despite much buzz predicting Alexander to be drafted first overall in the S15 NSFL Draft by the Arizona Outlaws, he was selected fourth overall in the first round by the Yellowknife Wraiths. Yellowknife, in need of help along the defensive line with the decline of star Zach Skinner, saw Alexander as an immediate contributor to the defense. In his rookie season, Alexander started all 14 games for the Wraiths, who would end the season 7-7 and one game out of playoff contention.
Alexander took over as the primary pass rusher for the Wraiths in his sophomore season, earning Pro Bowl honors as Yellowknife improved their record to 10-3, good for second place in the conference. They were eliminated in the NSFC quarterfinals by the Philadelphia Liberty.
Alexander, forming a fearsome duo along the defensive line with fellow S15 draftee Ryan Leaf Jr., led the team to a conference-best 8-5 record and the league’s best scoring defense in S17. The Wraiths were eliminated by the rival Baltimore Hawks in the NSFC championship game. Alexander once again earned a Pro Bowl berth along with a Defensive Lineman of the Year award upon setting a career high in tackles for loss, including a five-TFL game against Baltimore in week 5.
S18 saw the Wraiths continue their reign at the top of the NSFC, finishing the regular season an 11-2 record along with the league’s top scoring offense and second-ranked scoring defense. The Wraiths earned their first Ultimus berth in many seasons, losing by a score of 10-16 to the defending champion Orange County Otters. Alexander earned his third consecutive Pro Bowl nod.
In S19, Yellowknife once again topped the NSFC with a 9-4 record. The Wraiths, once again favored to win the Ultimus championship, won the conference championship in a dominant 55-14 showing before losing once again to Orange County by a score of 27-30. Alexander was joined on the defensive line by young linebacker Maurice Virtanen, who earned Pro Bowl honors opposite Alexander while his streak came to an end.
Following back-to-back home Ultimus losses, many commentators expected the Wraiths to once again win the NSFC and compete for the league championship in S20. Another 9-4 record placed Yellowknife at the top of the conference with yet another overall first seed in the playoffs. The defense, led by Alexander, ranked second in the league and first in the conference in rush yardage allowed. After handily dispatching the Colorado Yeti by a score of 40-24 in the conference championship game, the Wraiths once again found themselves in the driver's seat for a league title. However, they suffered their largest Ultimus defeat of the current streak against the Austin Copperheads, losing 37-20.
As the Wraiths headed into S21, they remained a top contender but were widely viewed as on the decline, losing ground to conference foes Colorado and Baltimore. On a personal level, Alexander reached the apex of his career and found himself at the top of the league in terms of most skilled players. Along with newly-converted defensive tackle Giannis Kroustis, he was expecting the finest season of his career, telling reporters "I feel great. I've been around this league for a while now, and I think that the game has slowed down for me to the point where I expect to control the line of scrimmage on every play. There's no one in this league more ready for this season than I am." Unfortunately, the season didn't live up to expectations. Alexander finished with just 1 sack, the fewest of his career, and 7 tackles for loss, the fewest since his rookie season. Yellowknife finished the regular season with a 7-6 record, good for third in the conference and a wildcard playoff slot. When the team got to the postseason, everything turned around. The Wraiths ousted the top-seeded Yeti on the road before squeezing out a tight road win in Baltimore. In these two games, Alexander recorded 15 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble, numbers that far outpaced his regular season per-game production. The Wraiths found themselves in the Ultimus game once again, on the road for the first time in four seasons. The miracle run came to an end in New Orleans, as the Wraiths fell 33-13 to the New Orleans Second Line.
| Ht | Wt | 40‑yd dash | 20‑ss | 3‑cone | Vert jump | Broad | BP | Wonderlic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
274 lb (124 kg) |
4.39 s | 4.37 s | 7.47 s | 30.4 in (0.77 m) |
123 ft 1 in (37.52 m) |
43 reps | 24 |
Professional career statistics
| Nero Alexander | Tackles | Turnovers | Scoring | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | League | Season | Pos | G | Tkl | TFL | Sk | FR | FF | Sfty |
| 2029 (S14) | Marshals | DSFL | S14 | DE | 14 | 41 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2030 (S15) | Wraiths | NSFL | S15 | DE | 14 | 43 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2031 (S16) | Wraiths | NSFL | S16 | DE | 13 | 36 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2032 (S17) | Wraiths | NSFL | S17 | DE | 13 | 43 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2033 (S18) | Wraiths | NSFL | S18 | DE | 13 | 27 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2034 (S19) | Wraiths | NSFL | S19 | DE | 13 | 32 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2035 (S20) | Wraiths | NSFL | S20 | DE | 13 | 44 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2036 (S21) | Wraiths | NSFL | S21 | DE | 13 | 38 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Career | YKW | 92 | 263 | 70 | 22 | 3 | 5 | 0 | |||
Achievements and records
In his inaugural professional season with San Antonio, Alexander ranked second among DSFL defensive linemen with 8 sacks along with 12 tackles for loss, earning Pro Bowl and Defensive Lineman of the Year honors.
Alexander has been selected to the NSFL Pro Bowl in four out of his six seasons in Yellowknife, ranking among league leaders in tackles for loss each season.
In S17, Alexander was narrowly voted as the NSFL Defensive Lineman of the Year in a hotly contested race against Austin Copperheads defensive end Grayson Kuusela. Kuusela led all defensive linemen with 15 sacks and recorded a safety, while Alexander recorded a league-leading 16 tackles for loss along with three sacks. The pick generated significant controversy, led by Austin General Manager Charlie Law, especially in light of the S16 vote that saw Thorian Skarsgard's 11 sacks and two tackles for loss win the award over Lo Rax's 18 TFLs and 5 sacks.
