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Kwon Alexander Set High Standards
Junior linebacker Kwon Alexander was synonymous with hype from the moment he set foot on the LSU campus in the fall of 2012. His high school accomplishments and national rankings brought excitement to Baton Rouge and fans did not have to wait long to watch the Oxford, Ala., native flash his potential.
Alexander started fast and played in seven games in his freshman season including two starts at linebacker for the Tigers, where he collected 12 tackles, one tackle for loss, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. It was not long before his teammates and coaches bought into the hype.
“Ever since Kwon came here he always had a lot of energy,” senior linebacker D.J. Welter said. “He is a guy who works extremely hard at what he does. From the moment he got here, he was determined to learn the playbook fast and get on the field and he did that as a freshman.”
Tiger fans everywhere began to recognize Alexander for the energy he brings to the field every Saturday. His excitement translated into quality performances and made his teammates better.
Welter said the energy is infectious and helps keep everyone motivated.
“Kwon is a high-energy guy,” said Welter. “Playing with a guy like that in the line backing corps makes everyone better. Guys like that make our teammates better and he has definitely made me better.”
Unfortunately for Alexander, his first season donning the purple and gold was not all smiles and success. The freshman phenom suffered a broken ankle in the Tigers' contest against Florida and he did not see field action again until the team's appearance at the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
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The reality of injury was tough to accept for Alexander, who said he learned a lot about himself by overcoming adversity.
“It let me know that football will not last forever,” said Alexander. “I rehabbed as hard as I could and got back as fast as I could. After that, my mindset was just to be great at everything I do.”
He was determined to translate his greatness on the field into greatness in the training room and made staying healthy his top priority.
“Being healthy is huge,” said Alexander. “When you are hurt, you cannot play so I focused on staying healthy through the whole spring and summer. I do all the extra things to keep my body in shape.”
Alexander also mentioned that he used his newfound free time to focus more on his schoolwork and get even closer to his teammates.
At the time when he needed them most, Alexander's teammates were there for him and happy to return the same energy and enthusiasm he always supplies. His quick rehab shows the effect a positive mindset can have in everyday life.
“My teammates will help me through anything,” said Alexander. “They are like my brothers. They motivate you to be a great player and be better at everything.”
Improve is exactly what Alexander did in 2013. In his second season with the Tigers and fresh off a major injury, he played in 13 games with nine starts and finished fourth on the team in total tackles.
Alexander made it no secret. He was back – and so was the hype.
“He is always out there flying around at practice,” said Welter. “He is always high-tempo and he never takes a day off.”
His energy at practice has paid off tremendously for Alexander, who already has accumulated nine tackles this season. Head coach Les Miles honored Alexander as the most valuable player in the Tigers' opening win against Wisconsin.
Not surprisingly, Alexander is not satisfied with what he has accomplished so far and is striving to improve.
“I feel like I can do better. I always can get better,” said Alexander. “I will never settle until the time comes for me to stop playing. Every chance I get I just try to get better.”
He has the bar for his success set very high, with his injury clearly in the rear-view mirror and his confidence growing as a starting linebacker for LSU.
“As a team we are just trying to be the best team in the nation,” said Alexander. “I set my standards high. I want to be the first linebacker to win the Heisman and reach every goal I can.”
Doubt him if you want, but if history is any indication Kwon Alexander will just run right past you.
LSU Defensive End is a Disruptive Force
The starting defensive end at Louisiana State University is familiar with a level of expectation that is unprecedented around the rest of the country.
With the success of names like Marcus Spears, Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo setting a strong tradition at his position, junior defensive lineman Danielle Hunter is poised to have a career season.
“My first goal is going out there and doing what I can for my team and coaches,” Hunter said. “Secondly, I’m trying to build off last year and improve.”
The Katy, Texas native made a name for himself in 2013 when he recorded 57 total tackles - including eight for losses - and three sacks in 13 games for the Tigers. His performance was good for a starting role in 2014, and Hunter has only gotten better since.
Fellow starting defensive end and senior Jermauria Rasco has taken notice of Hunter’s offseason efforts and cited his improved quickness off the snap as evidence of his work ethic.
“It’s incredible,” Rasco said. “He’s not playing timid at all and is just being the raw football player that he is.”
Hunter maintains that everything he achieves is a direct result of the unique bond between his teammates and coaches. Rasco serves as an example for Hunter, and the two have formed a relationship centered on the pursuit of success.
“Rasco is a mentor to me,” Hunter said. “He tells me what to work on and we work on it together every day at practice.”
LSU At the Game programs are available on campus three hours prior to game time and online while supplies last. |
The two joined the starting lineup around the same time and have been dedicated to each other ever since.
“We both feel a lot more comfortable than we did a year ago,” Rasco said. “After getting a year under our belt, we have a lot of chemistry.”
Hunter knows that the common denominator among all the great players is a commitment to perfection and is focusing on that rather than any individual accolades.
With teammates like Rasco, it is not difficult to keep that in mind.
“We hold each other accountable,” Rasco said. “I try to hold our guys to a certain standard. They respect me and I respect them.”
Defensive line coach Brick Haley’s track record speaks for itself, and his players know that the only way to achieve greatness is to follow his lead.
Head coach Les Miles hinted that Rasco is not the only mentor as Hunter enters his first season as a full-time starter.
“[Haley] can bring guys in and improve their game,” Miles said. “He is also a tremendous mentor of the players. He knows his guys and what classes they’re in and what’s going on. I always go to him first because he always knows.”
The impact that Haley has on his players is obvious.
Hunter did not even want to accept credit for his eye-opening play against Sam Houston State, where he timed the snap perfectly and ended the play in the backfield.
“That is just an example of doing what coach Haley told me to do,” Hunter said. “He told me to time the snap perfectly and I did just that.”
Hunter echoed his coach when discussing the mindset he takes to every play when lining up against the offensive line. He has confidence in himself and good coaching means he always knows what to expect.
“The main objective is to line up and know that you will win your matchup,” Hunter said. “Everyone that lines up on our defensive line has a mindset of, ‘I’m going to beat you.’”
Haley’s players know that his coaching is the key to achieving the success expected of an LSU defensive lineman.
Hunter refuses to focus on the LSU legends before him and instead chooses to focus on what made those players great in the hopes of one day joining them among the ranks of Fighting Tiger greats.
“I try not to think about that because it could become a distraction,” Hunter said. “The main thing we focus on here is getting better at the little things, and at the end, you work at the big things.”
If history is any indication, big things are in store for Hunter, and the junior is primed to take advantage of every opportunity this year.