Just a few years after falling short of his recruitment coming out of high school, Dabo Swinney and Clemson Football got their guy in Jeremiah Alexander, officially committing to the program Wednesday morning.
After entering the transfer portal less than a week ago, he initially had scheduled official visits to Oklahoma and Ole Miss but ended up sticking with the Tigers, committing shortly post-visit.
Swinney has proven a large crowd wrong this off-season as he now has made more portal acquisitions in just this 2024 cycle (3 players) than he has since the opening of the portal back in 2018 (2 players).
Alexander was a borderline five-star recruit coming out of high school, ranking as the No. 50 overall recruit, the No. 5 EDGE, and the No. 1 player in the state of Alabama in the 2022 recruiting class, per 247Sports.
In his four-year varsity career at Thompson High School in Alabama, he racked up 402 tackles, 101 tackles for a loss, 34 sacks, eight forced fumbles, three interceptions and five pass deflections.
Alexander stepped up as his team’s leader and strong suit in his junior year, leading them to a 14-0 record and a back-to-back 7A Alabama State Championship. He showed no signs of slowing down heading into his senior year and came out on top yet again, completing the three-peat as State Champions with his teammates to end his high school career.
He was named the 2022 MaxPreps Alabama Football Player of the Year and received a selection to the All-American Bowl as a senior.
Following his commitment to Alabama, he red-shirted as a freshman due to a stacked linebacker room that included guys like Will Anderson Jr., Dallas Turner, Henry To’oTo’o, etc.
Over the next two years in Tuscaloosa, Alexander saw snaps primarily on special teams, occasionally on defense, and dealt with a few minor injuries. He finished his career with the Crimson Tide, playing 57 snaps in a total of 24 games, completing eight tackles.
With Nick Saban retired now, a change of defensive scheme and no growth in playing time, Alexander figured the best move was a change of scenery, so into the portal he went.
While his statistics weren’t eye-popping, a multitude of high-major schools still went after him, and for good reason: he could have such an immediate impact on any given team’s defense. Thankfully, Clemson ended up with him, and former high school teammate Peter Woods seemed to play a factor in that, according to multiple reports. Everything always comes full circle.
This immediate impact possibility is evident as he’s experienced facing some of the most challenging opponents in College Football, considering he came from the SEC and can bring a sense of versatility to this Clemson defense as he can slide into the LB or EDGE spot, not to mention his natural athletic ability and extremely gifted frame.
Alexander arrives at a pivotal moment for Clemson’s defense, which is undergoing significant changes following the departure of former defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin.
While Goodwin’s tenure saw flashes of brilliance, the program is now looking to revamp its defensive identity under new leadership. Alexander’s presence provides a cornerstone for this new era, bringing a blend of experience, athleticism, and untapped potential.
The Tigers’ revamped defensive coaching staff will undoubtedly prioritize maximizing Alexander’s skill set. His ability to disrupt offenses as both an edge rusher and linebacker makes him a versatile asset in Clemson’s evolving defensive schemes. Paired with Peter Woods, Alexander has the opportunity to form a formidable one-two punch on the defensive line, rekindling the chemistry they shared at Thompson High School.
Some research done by writer Maura Kane
