Chargers’ Danario Alexander is new to San Diego, but not new to the NFL.
The recently signed wide receiver graduated from the University of Missouri in 2010, and racked up unreal NCAA numbers in his senior year. He had 1,781 yards and 14 touchdowns.
In February of 2010, he had a knee surgery that required a very long recovery, and that long recovery led to his long road to San Diego.
He signed on with the Rams as an undrafted free agent in the fall of 2010 and spent two injury-riddled years there. He missed half of the 2012 preseason because of what one St. Louis sports writer called a “never-ending hamstring injury.”
Despite his less-than-healthy past, the 6-foot-5, 217-pound receiver has the potential to electrify the Bolts’ offense.
As impressive as his stats could be, it might be his passion that has the bigger potential. When asked what he wanted his new San Diego fans to know about him an innocent, child-like smile came across his face.
“What do I want the fans to know about me?” Alexander said. “I love the sport of football. I’m out here for fun, although it’s my job, I still love to come out here and play the game.”
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He began playing Pop Warner when he was nine years old.
“So I’ve been in love with it for I don’t know however many years,” the 24-year old said. “15 years I guess.”
Growing up in an athletic family, he almost had to start young.
He’s the third brother of four. And the competitiveness and aggression he is so praised for as a receiver could be attributed to growing up in a household chock full of rambunctious, athletic boys.
“It was a competitive household growing up,” Alexander said with a chuckle. “We had a lot of fights, a lot of competition, man, it was pretty rough growing up.”
And any childhood torture or hazing Alexander got from his older brothers, he made sure to do his duty of passing on to his youngest brother.
“It was passed down,”Alexander said. “My oldest brother put the beat down on my older brother and he did the same and I passed it down to my younger brother. So it was kind of the trickle down effect.”
After his two years of struggles with the Rams, Alexander put everything he had into his workout for the team that was willing to give him a second chance. But he got all the way to the airport before his phone rang with the call he’d been hoping for.
“I was just in the airport,” Alexander said. “And I had a four-hour flight. I remember, it just made the flight a whole lot better for me.”
Alexander is not expected to start against the Cleveland Browns Sunday, but if the score allows, he may get a chance to take the field for the first time as a Charger.
Follow Amanda on Twitter @AmandaJoyMcCord
