Jasmine Casimir // Asst. Sports Director
While attending Lakeland Christian School, Christian Alexander led the football team to an 11-1 record, and he said he has intentions of doing the same as the football team’s third-string quarterback.
“Why go to another school that has already established something when you can start something new and building something here?” Alexander told Student Media.
Before the redshirt-freshman made his decision to move to Miami and start his college career at FIU, the 6’3, 221-pound quarterback knew that the football team was not a top contender in Conference USA, but was hopeful of ‘building something new’ with the program.
Alexander gained one surprise when joining the team, discovering that he and the other two quarterbacks had something in common: their names.
“It was very weird to me at first,” said Alexander. “But everybody started calling us the ‘Alexander boys’ and we were able to form a friendship.”
With being the third-string quarterback, Alexander has not been utilized much throughout the season, but said, he is always prepared whenever his number gets called to contribute to the team.
The Lakeland native made his season debut Sept. 24 against University of Central Florida for one possession drive. He made his second appearance on Nov. 7 against Western Kentucky where he played a full quarter and was able to get his feet wet a bit more.
Starting junior quarterback, Alex McGough, was inactive for the matchup after sustaining an injury against Middle Tennessee Oct. 29. Redshirt-freshman quarterback Maurice Alexander started in the game, but he did not play the entire game with Christian Alexander entering the game at the end of the third quarter.
The last time a third-string quarterback was active during a season was in the 2012-13 team under Mario Cristobal.
“I was definitely pleased for his first time really playing multiple plays,” said Interim Head Coach Ron Cooper. “He threw the ball well and showed some promise.”
Alexander ended the game against Western Kentucky completing eight of 11 passes for 81 yards and recording two touchdowns.
“Honestly, it was a great experience for me,” said Alexander. “We practice so many times out of the season so you take it like each practice and just go out there and relax.”
For the fans and student body who do not know the person behind the number eight jersey, Alexander said that he is a man of God who is working hard in what he wants to do in his life.
When Alexander isn’t on the field, he’s hunting, fishing or playing golf. Hunting is a hobby, Alexander said, that can not be expressed in Miami, but he has found a few places to go fishing to mellow down and have ‘me time’.
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