Player News - Rufus Alexander #42
October 17, 2006
No further
discipline for Alexander in incident, expected to
play: Stoops said Monday that he was
comfortable enough with the explanation concerning
Rufus Alexander's early morning arrest Sunday that
no further discipline would be necessary. "From
what we understand today, no," Stoops said, "other
than internally we'll work with him in some ways."
Norman police captain J.D. Younger told the paper
he believed [James] Wheeler instigated the
confrontation. (In part
NewsOK.com)
October 16, 2006
Linebacker, Team Captain Alexander Arrested:
Linebacker Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma's leading
tackler, was arrested after a confrontation with
police. Alexander said he was trying to stop a
fight early Sunday. He was charged with disturbing
the peace and interfering with official process --
both misdemeanors -- and was released after
posting bail. Coach Bob Stoops was aware of what
happened but had no immediate comment, school
spokesman Kenny Mossman said Monday. Alexander, a
team captain and an NFL prospect, told The
Oklahoma Daily he was in his car with a friend,
Jared Scelfo, when James Wheeler stepped in front
of the vehicle. A disturbance followed and police
arrived. "My friend got out of the car and I was
stopping him before he did something stupid,"
Alexander told the student newspaper. Scelfo was
arrested on the same charges as Alexander. Wheeler
was arrested on charges of disturbing the peace,
interfering with an official process and public
intoxication. (AP/ESPN.com)
September 14,
2006
Defensive to improve Alexander says:
Oklahoma's
defensive leader Rufus Alexander says the
defensive will improve overtime: "There were times
[last season] when we weren't disciplined. We were
playing when it was convenient for us instead of
playing hard every down," Alexander said. "We
learned from that, and we broke those habits.
You'll see this defense improve as we go along. I
don't think we have any weaknesses." (Star-Telegram)
August 23, 2006
Peterson and Alexander on Walter Camp Watchlist: The
Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the
names of 35 "players to watch" for its prestigious
Player of the Year award, the nation's
fourth-oldest individual college football
accolade. The watch list will be narrowed to ten
semi-finalists in early November. The 2006 Walter
Camp Player of the Year recipient, which is voted
on by the 119 Division I-A head coaches and sports
information directors, will be announced on the
ESPN/Home Depot College Football Awards Show in
December. The winner will then receive his trophy
at the Foundation's annual national awards banquet
on January 13, 2007 at the Yale University Commons
in New Haven. Last year's recipient was USC
running back Reggie Bush. Walter Camp, "The Father
of American football," first selected an
All-America team in 1889. Oklahoma's Senior
linebacker, Rufus Alexander, and Junior
runningback, Adrian Peterson. (Walter Camp
Foundation)
July 21, 2006
Pair of Sooners tabbed Preseason Player of the
Year: Adrian Peterson (Oklahoma) was named
Preseason Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year for
the second consecutive season and Rufus Alexander
(Oklahoma) was selected Preseason Defensive Player
of the Year in a Big 12 Conference media poll.
Peterson is a two-time All-Big 12 First Team
selection and was 2004 Big 12 Offensive Newcomer
and Freshman of the Year. The 6-2, 210, junior
running back finished second in the league in
rushing last season and led all running backs with
1,108 yards and a 100.7 yard per game average
despite missing nearly four games with an ankle
injury. Alexander was also an All-Big 12 First
Team selection in 2005 after leading the Sooners
in total (102), unassisted (56) and assisted (46)
tackles. The 6-1, 231, senior linebacker also had
14.5 (-51) tackles for loss, five (-36) sacks,
nine pass breakups and nine quarterback hurries
last season. He was seventh in the Big 12 in
tackles per game (8.5). (SoonerSports Release)
June 16, 2006
Rufus Alexander
on Bednarik Watch list:
Oklahoma linebacker Rufus Alexander has been named to the preseason watch list
for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which is presented annually by the Maxwell
Football Club to the nation's top defensive player. Alexander led the Sooners in
tackles last season when he was a consensus All-Big 12 pick. On Wednesday it was
announced that OU's Adrian Peterson and Rhett Bomar are on the preseason list
for the Maxwell Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top overall
player. Alexander, a 6-1, 231-pound senior from Baton Rouge, La., was the
Sooners' top tackler last season with 102, including 17 for loss. He had a
career-high five sacks to go with nine pass break-ups, two fumbles forced, one
interception and one fumble caused. (SoonerSports.com)
May 31, 2006
Two Sooners among top 7
Big XII prospects:
Daily
Tribune's Dave Matter, in his early Big XII 2007 top 12 NFL draft prospects,
ranks two Sooners among the top 7. No surprise, star running back Adrian
Peterson is tabbed #1, Oklahoma's SR. leading linebacker Rufus Alexander at 7th.
May 12, 2006
SportingNews ranks OU highly in Preseason:
Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson and Rufus Alexander have been tabbed The Sporting News
Preseason Big 12 Players of the Year for offense and defense, respectively.
TSN's preseason publication will be available in June. (SoonerSports.com)
April 2, 2006
INTs
recorded by: Rufus Alexander, Reggie
Smith (1TD), Lendy Holmes, Keenan Clayton, and C.J. Ah You
March
28, 2006
Rufus named to Lott
Watch List: Linebacker Rufus Alexander of Oklahoma is one of the 42 top
defensive players in the nation who have been named to the 2006 Lott Trophy
Watch List, it was announced today. Alexander is a returning All-Big 12
performer who led the Sooners in tackles last season with 102. The 6-1,
231-pound senior from Baton Rouge, La., had six double-digit tackles games last
season, including a career-high 13 stops at Nebraska. In 25 career games and 22
starting assignments, he has 178 total tackles. Twenty-four of those have been
for loss, including seven sacks. He has four career fumble recoveries and one
interception. (Sooner
Sports Release)
March 8, 2006
Alexander on Lombardi
Award Watch List: Oklahoma linebacker Rufus Alexander, a consensus All-Big
12 selection last season, is on the initial watch list for the 37th Rotary
Lombardi Award. A Sooner has been a finalist for the award three times in the
last five years and OU defensive tackle Tommie Harris, now with the Chicago
Bears, won the honor in 2003. Tony Casillas, another Oklahoma standout, was the
1985 winner. The 37h Rotary Lombardi Award will be presented on December 6 at
the Hilton Americas Hotel in Houston. A.J. Hawk of Ohio State was named the 36th
winner of the award last year. The 44 preliminary candidates earned a place on
the initial Watch List by earning All-American honors at the end of the 2005 or
previous seasons, or by being named to their respective All Conference team as
selected by the conference's head coaches. (SoonerSports Release)
January 12, 2006
Rufus to return for
senior year: Linebacker Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma's leading tackler,
confirmed Wednesday he plans to return for his senior season with the Sooners.
Alexander, who had 102 tackles from his weakside linebacker position, said he
had received a number of calls from agents the past few days. "I've just had a
lot of phone calls so I want to put this to rest once and for all," Alexander
said in a university statement. "I always wanted to come back and play my senior
year." (ESPN.com)
December 31, 2005
No early draft
entries? OU coach Bob Stoops said Friday he does not expect any of OU's
juniors to leave early for the NFL Draft. There has been mild speculation that
weakside linebacker Rufus Alexander might be contemplating a departure, though
Alexander said recently he planned to stay. "I don't believe there's anybody in
a situation where it would benefit them, or that their stock is so high that
they can't improve," Stoops said. "As we all know, every spot you jump in the
draft, that's a lot of money." (NewsOK.com)
December 18, 2005
Rufus NFL Option? Junior linebacker Rufus Alexander said Saturday he has not explored his NFL
options, "yet." Juniors routinely seek evaluations of their NFL draft potential;
Alexander said he had not done that. Defensive coordinator Brent Venables, who
coaches the linebackers, said he and Alexander talked midway through the season
and doesn't believe Alexander will leave early. "I know how people are,"
Venables said. "They try to poison you with the wrong information. Rufus is a
lot smarter than that. ... He knows what he can do to be better and what he
needs to do." (NewsOK.com)
November 30, 2005
Five Sooners named
All-Big XII: Thirteen Oklahoma Sooners, including five that received
first-team recognition, were named to the All-Big 12 Conference Team that was
announced today. The team was selected by the league's coaches. RB Adrian
Peterson, FB J.D. Runnels and OT Davin Joseph were named to the first team
offense, while DT Dusty Dvoracek and LB Rufus Alexander were named to the first
team defense. Second team selections from OU included LB Clint Ingram, WR Travis
Wilson, DE Calvin Thibodeaux and CB Chijioke Onyenegecha. DE C.J. Ah You was
named the league's defensive newcomer of the year and was one of four Sooners
named honorable mention. The other three were QB Rhett Bomar, WR Malcolm Kelly
and CB D.J. Wolfe. Runnels, Joseph, Dvoracek, Ingram,Wilson and Onyenegecha are
seniors. The other seven honorees from Oklahoma are scheduled to return for
2006. (Sooner
Sports)
October 18, 2005
Rufus named Big XII
Defensive Player of the Week: Oklahoma linebacker Rufus Alexander has been
named the Big 12 Conference's Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts in
OU's 19-3 win over Kansas, Saturday. The junior registered 10 tackles, three for
losses, broke up one pass, was credited with one quarterback hurry and made an
important interception during the game. The pick came in the third quarter when
Alexander wrestled the ball away from Kansas' Derek Fine at the Sooner two yard
line. The play prevented the Jayhawks from closing in on a touchdown that might
have knotted the game at 10-10. Alexander helped key a defensive effort that
stymied Kansas all night. The Jayhawks rushed 22 times for just 11 yards and
gained only 86 yards through the air on 11 completions in 30 attempts with three
interceptions. Alexander is Oklahoma's leader in tackles (53) and tackles for
loss (10, tied with Dusty Dvoracek). He also has six pass deflections, five QB
hurries, one sack, one fumble recovery and one interception. Other Big 12 honors
for the week went to Texas Tech quarterback Cody Hodges on offense and Missouri'
Adam Crossett on special teams. (SoonerSports PR)
October 10, 2005
Alexander Injured: Junior linebacker Rufus Alexander sustained what Venables called a "bone bruise"
on his shin Saturday. However, Venables didn't want to speculate on whether
Alexander would miss any time until after he saw an injury report. OU coach Bob
Stoops indicated he did not believe the injury was serious. Alexander, who had
10 tackles and broke up a pass Saturday, continued to play after the hit that
caused the bruise. (NewsOK.com)
June 27, 2005
Birdine and Alexander
on Nagurski Watch List: Oklahoma players Rufus Alexander and Larry Birdine
are on the 50-member Nagurski Award Watch List that was released today by the
Football Writers Association of America. The Nagurski Award is presented
annually to the nation's top defensive player. Alexander, a junior linebacker
from Baton Rouge, La., is the Sooners' top returning tackler after making 74
stops last season. He also had three fumble recoveries, a pair of sacks and one
interception. Birdine, a senior defensive end from Lawton, Okla., ranked No. 3
in the Big 12 last season with seven sacks. It was a remarkable feat considering
he did not start a game while backing up All-Big 12 selections Dan Cody and
Jonathan Jackson. Birdine finished the season with 39 total tackles. He also
broke up four passes and recovered one fumble. (SoonerSports)
June 2, 2005
Athlon predicts
Oklahoma to win Big XII: Athlon Sports released its preseason Top 25 at
AthlonSports.com. Oklahoma checked in at No. 4 with Athlon Sports predicting
Oklahoma to win the Big 12 Conference. Sooner RB Adrian Peterson was named a
preseason First-Team All-American and First-Team All-Big 12. OL Davin Joseph, DL
Dusty Dvoracek and LB Rufus Alexander were named preseason First-Team All-Big
12. WR Travis Wilson, DL Larry Birdine and LB Clint Ingram were named preseason
Second-Team All-Big 12 while DB Marcus Walker was named a preseason Third-Team
All-Big 12 selection. Oklahoma's running backs unit were rated No. 1 as a unit
in the Big 12 while the offensive line, defensive line, and defensive backs were
rated No. 2 in the conference. Oklahoma's incoming freshman class was ranked No.
1 in the Big 12 with DT DeMarcus Granger as the No. 2 rated incoming freshman.
Athlon's magazines will hit newsstands on June 7. The Big 12 regional edition
cover will feature Oklahoma RB Adrian Peterson.(Athlon
Sports)
Former Oklahoma Sooners:
See Also:
Oklahoma Team Roster
Oklahoma Sooners Award History
Oklahoma Coaching History
Oklahoma Sooners Bowl History
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