New York Giants third-round draft pick Darius Alexander’s journey to the NFL is anything but conventional.
Having spent six years at Toledo, an FBS school, Alexander’s career has been anything but typical. He bounced between defense, offense, and eventually returned to the defensive line. Along the way, he also took on the role of being a father to his 6-year-old son, Messiah.
Few players in the 2025 draft class have had to juggle the demands of raising a child while balancing college football and academics at the Division I level.
“Being a dad has been life-changing, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” Alexander said. “Watching him love the game the way I did at his age, seeing him grow up around it every day—waking up early with me, staying up late with me—it’s been amazing. I’d go through it all again in a heartbeat. It’s a joy to see him do what he loves while I do what I love.”
After being drafted by the Giants, Alexander brought his son along to New Jersey.
“His favorite part so far has probably been getting on a plane,” Alexander shared. “It was his first time flying. He was nervous at first, but he ended up loving it. He’s adjusting really well.”
Darius Alexander
Standing at 6-foot-3¾ and weighing 305 pounds, Alexander had opportunities to transfer to bigger schools, but he chose loyalty over prestige.
“I had plenty of offers, but it was a loyalty thing for me,” he said. “Coach Jason Candle at Toledo was the first to offer me out of high school, and he stuck with me even when things weren’t going well in my high school career. Signing with him on National Signing Day was a blessing, and spending my entire college career at Toledo was priceless. I built incredible relationships with my teammates, my brothers, and Coach Candle. I’ll always be grateful for that.”
Alexander also had high praise for Toledo’s defensive coordinator, Vince Kehres, who has been with the team since 2020.
“Coach Kehres has been a huge influence on me,” Alexander said. “He’s got high energy, and he brings a savage mentality to the game. The way he teaches and coaches is something I really admire. He helped me get to where I am.”
It was Kehres who saw Alexander struggling on the offensive line and suggested a return to defense.
“Coach Kehres came in from Mount Union and saw my tape from that summer,” Alexander explained. “He went to Coach Candle and said, ‘We need this guy on defense.’ He didn’t know what we were doing with him on offense, but he knew I’d be a better fit on the defensive side. That’s how I got back to defense, and I’m forever grateful to him for that.”
During his pre-draft process, Alexander had a “30 visit” with the Giants.
“The meeting with Coach Dre [defensive line coach Andre Patterson] and Coach Cox [defensive line coach Bryan Cox] went great,” he said. “We talked about my game and how I could improve. After the meeting, Coach Dre told me, ‘If you’re still on the board and I can get my hands on you, I’m coming to get you.’ And that’s exactly what happened. I’m excited to be here.”
Leave a Reply