Cornerback Tyrell Alexander Adjusts to Life at a New Position in Stillwater

When you think of the receivers that aren’t on Oklahoma State’s roster anymore, James Washington, Marcell Ateman and Chris Lacy come to mind. But Tyrell Alexander is another player who won’t catch passes in orange and black anymore – unless it’s an interception.

Alexander made the switch this spring from receiver to cornerback. The redshirt sophomore from Lancaster, Texas, had only two receptions for 68 yards last season. Fifty-six of those yards came on a reception against Kansas. Formerly a three-star recruit, Alexander received offers from Tennessee, Arizona State and Oregon before deciding to join OSU.

As with any position change, Alexander’s switch will come with a learning curve. But he feels prepared to handle whatever differences he discovers along the way. He played defensive back during his senior year of high school, particularly during his team’s playoff run. Being a former receiver, he also has a mental edge because he has a better idea of what his opponent will do.

“It helps me because I’m able to read routes and read concepts, just knowing exactly what they’re doing offensively,” Alexander said. “It helps me out and gives me an advantage, I think. I was ready for the challenge. I was thrilled and ready to go whenever they asked me. Just to try it and see how I liked it. Everything’s been going pretty good.”

Including Alexander, the Cowboys have eight cornerbacks on their roster. Other than A.J. Green and Rodarius Williams, Alexander has more in-game experience than every other corner except Bryce Balous, who played in all 13 games last season.

“AJ and Rodarius, from day one, they took me under their wings and helped me immediately,” Alexander said. “Teaching me techniques and teaching me what I need to work on.”

It’s not uncommon for a receiver to switch to cornerback, or vice-versa. However, cornerback is one of the toughest positions to play. Luckily, Alexander has a pretty talented group of receivers to compete against as he prepares for his first full season at corner. He’s learning to play the position the way defensive coordinator Jim Knowles wants him to play, which includes a lot of responsibility, Alexander said.

“I think it’s more of a, hold your own (defense),” Alexander said. “If you do your part, it’s gonna come together as a whole, defensively. So just understanding what other people are doing on the field and understanding what I can and can’t do, knowing what I know on offense will help me out even more.”