Alexander does not move like a Roc

Published 9:00 pm Wednesday, September 26, 2001

By John Sleeper

Herald Writer

SEATTLE — How much of an inexact science is college recruiting?

Watch sophomore cornerback and kick returner Roc Alexander in the Washington Huskies’ first two games — the electrifying 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Idaho, the way he burst past Michigan players on a 77-yard TD off a blocked field-goal attempt, the two interceptions, the tension he causes opponents with his blurring speed — and remember that he wasn’t heavily recruited out of Wasson High School in Colorado Springs, Colo.

"It wasn’t as though he was on the Who’s Who list," UW coach Rick Neuheisel said. "As a matter of fact, as you look at some of those rating lists, I think he was given one star."

So much for most recruiting gurus.

The fact is that Washington and Kansas State, along with the Arizona schools, saw what Alexander offered: A guy with 10.3-second speed in the 100 meters. A guy who proved that football, rather than track, was a priority because of his thirst for contact. A guy whose immense talent was hidden because his high school was anything but a traditional football power. The Thunderbirds made the state playoffs for the first time in seven seasons with Alexander.

Yet, not even Colorado, 93 miles to the south in Boulder, gave Alexander a look.

"He’s raising some eyebrows, probably, in this early stage," said Chuck Heater, the Huskies’ cornerbacks coach and recruiting coordinator.

Perhaps hampering Alexander, at least in recruiters’ eyes, was that he played outside linebacker in high school. Certainly, a 165-pounder won’t play outside linebacker in major college football, no matter how fast he is.

So to many, Alexander was a project, albeit an immensely athletic one.

"I could hit, man," Alexander said, smiling. "I was a hitter in high school."

He was not, however, a cornerback.

"He didn’t come with a lot of skills as a defensive back," Heater said. "He didn’t backpedal very well. Everything he’s done, he’s had to learn. But you always wonder if some of those fast, straight-line guys are quick. But he’s got both."

Even with his speed, Alexander didn’t return kicks in high school. Yes, he averaged 10 yards a carry as a senior tailback, but the first time he ever returned kicks was when he came to Washington.

"I don’t know what the deal was," Alexander said. "I would have done anything. He could have put me back there. But he never put me back there."

The 10.3-second 100 was Alexander’s selling point, especially in a Neuheisel regime that puts a premium on speed. The philosophy: Grab athletes who can run and teach them the game.

To make sure of speed, the Huskies recruit quantitatively. While some high school coaches have been known to hedge on a 40-yard dash time, few can dispute track times. That’s what sold Chris Massey (10.7) and Sam Cunningham (10.7) to Washington.

"It would be a problem for us to take a skill athlete who didn’t have track in his background," Heater said. "You’d really have to think, ‘Why? If he’s a fast guy, why isn’t he running track?’ That’s a big thing."

Certainly, safeties and special teams coach Bobby Hauck was buying what Alexander was selling. Hauck, Washington’s premier recruiter, never wavered.

"I thought it was easy to evaluate Roc," Hauck said. "He had great track times. You looked at him on tape and he showed athletic ability. It was easy. He was one of my top guys out of all the guys I looked at. I didn’t see anything I didn’t like about him. I thought he was a slam dunk."

Burned in the past by players who were track athletes first, last and always (see Hooker, Ja’Warren), the trick was to be certain that Alexander’s priority was football. While Neuheisel has said that he encourages his players to go out for multiple sports at Washington, they do receive a football scholarship and the priority should reflect accordingly.

It was clear Alexander was a football player first.

"He’s absolutely physical and likes it," Hauck said. "He likes to finish running into someone. If you watch a guy play, you can tell if he enjoys playing or not. It’s not hard to see the guys who like to mix it up. They’re the guys flying around."

Flying is the only way Alexander hasn’t gotten downfield.

But don’t put it past him.