Maurice Alexander (wide receiver) explained

Maurice Alexander
Currentteam:Detroit Lions
Number:1
Position:Wide receiver
Birth Date:10 January 1997
Birth Place:Florida City, Florida, U.S.
Height Ft:5
Height In:11
Weight Lbs:174
High School:Booker T. Washington
(Miami, Florida)
College:FIU
Undraftedyear:2020
Pastteams:
Status:Active
Highlights:
Pfr:AlexMa02
Statseason:2023
Statlabel1:Receptions
Statvalue1:1
Statlabel2:Receiving yards
Statvalue2:7
Statlabel3:Receiving touchdowns

Maurice Alexander Jr. (born January 10, 1997) is an American football wide receiver for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected with the 8th pick in the 17th round (No. 139 overall) of the 2022 USFL draft.[1] He played college football at the Florida International University. After college, he went unsigned as an undrafted free agent in the 2020 NFL draft.

Early years

As a junior, Alexander threw for 2,111 yards and 26 touchdowns on his way to earning Second-team All-Miami Dade County selection, as well as being named 2014 Team MVP for Booker T. Washington Tornadoes.[2] [3]

As a senior, he guided the Tornadoes to a perfect 15–0 season, throwing for 3,060 yards and 32 touchdowns, rushing for 466 yards seven touchdowns. This culminated with a state championship, and 34–28 victory in the 2015 Burger King State Champions Bowl Series against Bingham Miners, with Alexander rushing for the winning touchdown.[4] He was named 2015 Dade County Player of the Year, First-team All-Date County, Class 4A First-team All-State and Booker T. Washington Offensive MVP.

College career

Alexander was recruited to Florida International as a dual threat player.[5] After redshirting the 2015 season, Alexander went on to appear in eight games (starting four) as a redshirt freshman. He was primarily a backup to quarterback Alex McGough with his gametime coming in relief of McGough. He finished the 2016 season with 613 passing yards and two touchdowns, 109 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.

In the 2017 season Alexander played in eight games for the Panthers. He filled in, in the 2017 Gasparilla Bowl when McGough went down with a fractured collarbone. FIU went on to lose the game 28–3 with Alexander completing 16-of-33 passes for 162 yards being intercepted twice.[6]

At the beginning of his redshirt junior year, Alexander made the switch from quarterback to wide receiver.[7] He featured in 13 games (starting nine) finishing first on the team in receptions (40), second in receiving touchdowns (5) and third in receiving yards (474). Against UMass, Alexander became the first FIU Panther in school history to score a receiving and punt return touchdown in the same game. He ended the season being named First-team All-Conference USA as a punt returner.[8]

Alexander's 2019 season ended prematurely after 9 games, suffering a season ending injury against Old Dominion. He once again had a game to remember against UMass, racking up 140 yards in punt returns including a 90-yard touchdown return, the longest of the season in the FBS. His best performance came at Middle Tennessee catching five passes for 87 yards, scoring his only receiving touchdown of the year.

College statistics

SeasonTeamGPPassingReceivingRushingKick returnsPunt returns
Cmp Att Pct Yards TD Int Rec Yds Avg TD Att Yds Avg TD Ret Yds Avg TD Ret Yds Avg TD
FIURedshirted the 2015 season
FIU8 51 87 58.6 613 2 6 0 0 0 0 55 109 2.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FIU8 18 39 46.2 174 0 2 0 0 0 0 22 7 0.3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FIU13 2 2 100.0 40 0 0 40 474 11.9 5 17 115 6.8 2 1 16 16.0 0 15 219 14.6 1
FIU9 1 2 50.0 22 0 0 25 298 11.9 1 9 42 4.7 0 1 18 18.0 0 10 187 18.7 1
Career 38 72 130 55.4 849 2 8 65 772 11.9 6 103 273 2.7 3 2 34 17.0 0 25 406 16.2 2

Professional career

Philadelphia Stars

On February 23, 2022, Alexander was selected by Philadelphia Stars of the United States Football League (USFL) on Day 2 of the 2022 USFL draft. Wide receivers became eligible for selection between rounds 13–17 and again in the supplemental draft. Alexander was the penultimate wide receiver selected in the draft proper, picked in round 17, 139th overall.[9] [10]

Alexander was named in the Week 2 All-USFL Team. He finished the game against Pittsburgh Maulers with 186 all-purpose yards, 87 receiving yards from 8 receptions and 2 receiving touchdowns.[11] [12] Despite this, he has been used predominantly as a return specialist, leading the team in both kick and punt return yards.

Detroit Lions

Alexander signed with the Detroit Lions on August 3, 2022.[13] He was waived on August 30, 2022, and signed to the practice squad the next day.[14] [15] He was promoted to the active roster on October 8, 2022.[16] He was waived two days later.[17] He was re-signed to the practice squad two days later.[18] He was promoted back to the active roster on October 22.[19] He was waived on October 24, 2022.[20] He was re-signed to the practice squad two days later.[21] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 9, 2023.

On August 29, 2023, Alexander was waived by the Lions and re-signed to the practice squad.[22] [23] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 30, 2024.[24]

Professional statistics

Regular season
Year! rowspan="2"
TeamGamesReceivingKick returnPunt return
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Att Yds Avg Lng TD Att Yds Avg Lng TD
PHI10 6 20 234 11.7 32 2 25 787 31.5 66 0 13 164 12.6 30 0
Career 10 6 20 234 11.7 32 2 25 787 31.5 66 0 13 164 12.6 30 0
Postseason
Year! rowspan="2"
TeamGamesReceivingKick returnPunt return
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Att Yds Avg Lng TD Att Yds Avg Lng TD
PHI1 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 3 77 25.7 37 0 1 87 87.0 87 1
Career

Personal life

Alexander is the son of Maurice Alexander Sr. and Kevia Morrison. He has one sibling, Maurkevia.

Alexander has three cousins who played American football to a collegiate level. Shaun and Nate Terry played at West Virginia while James Terry played at Kansas State.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: USFL DRAFT 2022: EVERY PICK OF EVERY ROUND FOR EVERY TEAM . May 30, 2022 . www.foxsports.com . en.
  2. Web site: Maurice Alexander . May 30, 2022 . fiusports.com . en.
  3. Web site: Welcome to Wildcat Nation . May 30, 2022 . btwfootball.org . en.
  4. Web site: Halley . Jim . December 28, 2014 . Booker T. Washington stays perfect with OT thriller in Burger King State Champions Bowl Series . August 1, 2023 . USA TODAY High School Sports . en-US.
  5. Web site: Maurice Alexander . May 30, 2022 . 247sports.com . en.
  6. Web site: Goodall . Fred . December 22, 2017 . Nutile leads Temple over FIU 28-3 in Gasparilla Bowl . August 1, 2023 . AP News . en.
  7. Web site: Henry . Eric C. . March 30, 2020 . FIU Football: How These NFL Hopefuls Are Preparing Without a Pro Day . August 1, 2023 . Underdog Dynasty . en.
  8. Web site: FB: 2018 All-Conference Teams . May 30, 2022 . www.conferenceusa.com . en.
  9. Web site: USFL DRAFT 2022: EVERY PICK OF EVERY ROUND FOR EVERY TEAM . May 30, 2022 . www.foxsports.com . en.
  10. Web site: USFL DRAFT DETAILS: TIME, DRAFT ORDER, SELECTION PROCESS . May 30, 2022 . www.foxsports.com . en.
  11. Web site: USFL NEWSWeek 2 All-USFL Team . May 30, 2022 . www.udflnewshub . en.
  12. Web site: APRIL 23: PITTSBURGH MAULERS @ PHILADELPHIA STARS RECAP . May 30, 2022 . www.theusfl.com . en.
  13. Web site: Risdon . Jeff . August 3, 2022 . Lions sign WR Maurice Alexander from the USFL . June 21, 2023 . USAToday.com . en.
  14. Web site: August 30, 2022 . Lions announce roster moves . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20230102104838/https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-announce-roster-moves-x0035 . January 2, 2023 . September 3, 2022 . DetroitLions.com.
  15. Web site: August 31, 2022 . Lions announce roster moves . DetroitLions.com.
  16. 1578839234127200257 . Lions .
    1. Lions announce roster moves: Signed WR Maurice Alexander and CB AJ Parker to the Active Roster from the Practice Squad Elevated DB Saivion Smith and K Michael Badgley to the Active/Inactive List from the Practice Squad Placed WR Quintez Cephus on the Reserve/Injured List
    .
  17. 1579562869934342144 . Lions .
    1. Lions waive WR Maurice Alexander
    .
  18. 1580254672434012160 . Lions .
    1. Lions have signed WR Maurice Alexander to the Practice Squad.
    .
  19. Web site: Reisman . Jeremy . October 22, 2022 . Detroit Lions activate Jerry Jacobs, Josh Paschal from PUP, make 3 practice squad moves . August 1, 2023 . Pride of Detroit . SB Nation.
  20. 1584641521201991680 . Lions .
    1. Lions have waived WR Maurice Alexander.
    .
  21. 1585301290175070210 . Lions .
    1. Lions have re-signed WR Maurice Alexander to the Practice Squad.
    .
  22. Web site: August 29, 2023 . Lions announce roster moves . 2024-07-01 . DetroitLions.com.
  23. Web site: August 30, 2023 . Lions announce roster moves . 2024-07-01 . DetroitLions.com.
  24. Web site: Schlitt . Erik . 2024-01-30 . Update: Detroit Lions sign 12 players to futures contracts . 2024-05-28 . Pride Of Detroit . SB Nation . en.