2024 Trib HSSN Preseason Football All-Star Team: Central Valley’s Brendan Alexander

By: Matthew Purucker
Tuesday, July 23, 2024 | 12:01 AM

There are no shortage of Division I schools where Brendan Alexander can begin his collegiate career.

The Central Valley junior offensive and defensive lineman has shown outstanding growth throughout his high school career and is excited for the future and also understands the dedication required to achieve his goals.

Being recruited as an offensive lineman, Alexander has seen offers from as far south as Arkansas and as far west as Stanford. The variety of offers Alexander has received he believes is a result of his skill set on and off the field.

“I feel like my grades are good academically. I have offers from Stanford and Georgia Tech,” Alexander said. “My brother (Landon), he was a good player, so I want to imitate him. I’m just proud that I can do it on the field and academically.”

Central Valley coach Mark Lyons has been impressed by Alexander since he met him. Along with fellow Central Valley Trib HSSN Preseason Football All-Star running back Jance Henry Jr., Alexander has the opportunity to lead the Warriors toward their goals.

“Brendan, ever since he was a freshman and came into the program, you could see the talent that could get him to an elite level. The surprising thing is that he is young for his age,” Lyons said. “He should still be a sophomore. He’s grown, he’s got bigger, and he’s getting stronger. I’m excited for what’s ahead of him as a junior.”

With Alexander’s promising future in mind, there is one objective that Alexander believes right now outshines the rest and resonates with his head coach.

“State championship,” he said. “That’s the most important thing. We’ve got a good running back and a good coach. I’m just trying to achieve that goal.”

To achieve that lofty expectation, it will take improvement from Warriors all over the field. Alexander is looking to lead by example and put himself in a position where he can help the team wherever and whenever he is needed.

“I feel like using my pass setting and defense are things that (I am) focusing on,” Alexander said. “Just being able to play a team game … and be a team player. Whatever they need me to do, l’ll have to excel at it.”

Leadership is something Lyons and Alexander stressed is important for his growth and the betterment of the team.

“(He should be) probably starting to show some leadership qualities. Even though he’s a young junior, the mental part of the game is where I’d like to see him grow even more,” Lyons said.

Alexander added: “We’ve just been grinding as a team to push all of us and overachieve and find leadership. It’s been going really good so far.”

Going into his junior season with leadership and performance at the forefront of his mind, Alexander said he had planned to work hard and succeed at the high school level to make himself desirable to college coaches. He wanted to reiterate that by emphasizing his versatility.

“I feel like defensive tackle and offensive tackle fit me very well, and that is where I want to focus on this season,” he said. “But, I feel like I can play anywhere.”

Brendan Alexander

Central Valley

Junior

6-foot-4,277 pounds

OL/DL

Stars: Three

Division I offers: Akron, Arkansas, Boston College, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Connecticut, Duke, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Miami (Ohio), Michigan State, North Carolina State, Penn State, Pitt, Stanford, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Wisconsin

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Tags: Central Valley