Mackensie Alexander taken by Vikings in NFL Draft
Alexander didn’t record an interception in college but maintains he’s the best cornerback in the draft.
The Minnesota Vikings have drafted former Clemson cornerback Mackensie Alexander with the No. 54 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. A talented prospect who might be a little raw, Alexander was regarded as one of the top cornerbacks in this year's draft class.
Alexander was a hugely important part of Clemson's team that made it to the national championship game. When Alexander was injured early, it was the turning points of the game. Alabama won the College Football Playoff title after a pair of second-half touchdown passes when Alexander wasn't on the field. He started all 13 games as a redshirt freshman in 2014 and returned for the same role last season, before declaring for the draft after the title game loss.
Alexander has been called many things both on and off the field. Off the field, he doesn't take many interviews and he doesn't have a lot to say ... until he does. When he gets going, he doesn't stop, and at the NFL Scouting Combine in February, he wasn't shy about talking himself up.
“I’m 22, but I’m ready to compete with anybody. There’s nobody more dedicated than me, who’s put more time in or is more of a competitor than me,” Alexander said. “I’m here prepared. I’m telling you I’m the best corner in this draft class.”
Alexander also told the assembled media to check the stat sheet if they doubted him. But discerning readers will note that the stat sheet credits Alexander with 44 total tackles, four tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and ... zero interceptions in college. He is credited with just 11 passes defensed on top of that.
But that in itself doesn’t mean he wasn’t good in college. In fact, he was great, and explained the fact that his first NFL interception will be his first since high school is actually an indication of his strength as a player.
“In a lot of my situations, I wasn’t challenged very much,” Alexander said. “A lot of quarterbacks on teams stayed away from me, and that was their game plan, really.”
Alexander wasn’t shy of talking about other players or implying that anybody who had him pegged as anything other than the best was wrong. He mentioned Laquon Treadwell, one of the top receivers in the draft, and in so many words called him slow, a common complaint about Treadwell from draft analysts.
When he talked about Will Fuller, he basically said that the young receiver has nothing aside from his speed. He would know, as he shut Fuller down in a matchup between Notre Dame and Clemson last season. And he made sure Fuller knew about it.
When asked about his so-called trash-talking, Alexander simply replied “I speak facts only.” When he was asked what he’d say to NFL personnel who don’t think he has the right size to play the position, he said “Hallelujah.”
Alexander was named All-ACC despite recording no interceptions. Even at 5’10 and 190 pounds, he can take receivers out of the game and put them on an island. His ability as a press corner is impressive, though his biggest concern is how he’ll perform against the bigger, dominant receivers in the NFL.
He made his living by simply being great at man coverage in college, but the transition to the NFL will be his biggest test yet. Going from college to NFL coverage schemes can trip up the most promising prospects, yet Alexander maintains that everyone in the draft has the talent to succeed if they can understand the mental aspect of the NFL. Alexander thinks he has it down.
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