New York Giants third-round pick Darius Alexander has undoubtedly had a different path to the NFL than many players.
He spent six years at Toledo, an FBS school. He played defense, then offense, then finally switched back to the defensive line. He has a 6-year-old son he is raising.
There are likely few players in the 2025 draft class who had to balance daily child-raising responsibilities with going to class and playing Division I college football.
“That experience right there [being a dad], I wouldn’t change that for the world. That means everything to me,” Alexander said. “Just to watch him love the game like I did when I was his age, and for him to be around it for a very long time, day in and day out, watching how hard I work, to wake up early in the morning with me and go to sleep late at night with me, it’s been wonderful. I’d bring him and do it all over again if I could. It’s a joy watching him do what he loves to do, as he watches me do what I love to do, so I get enjoyment out of it for sure.”
Alexander brought his son, Messiah, to New Jersey with him after being selected by the Giants.
“I’d say his favorite part is probably getting on a plane,” Alexander said. “First time he’s ever been on a plane, so he was scared at first, but he actually ended up liking it. He’s doing pretty well right now.”
The 6-foot-3⅞, 305-pound Alexander had plenty of opportunities to leave Toledo and play for a bigger, more prestigious program. He declined.
“I definitely had a lot of teams trying to come and get me, but it was a loyalty thing for me. [Toledo head] Coach [Jason] Candle was my first offer out of high school coming out, and then for him to stay with me throughout the whole process when things weren’t going my way in high school and signing me on national signing day was a blessing for me.
“My last six years there, it means everything to me, everything in the world to me. I’d never trade it for anything in the world. I got to spend a great time with my players and my teammates and my brothers, and I made great bonds out there, and then to Coach Candle, I thank him for everything. He gave me a chance, and I appreciate that a lot.”
Alexander also praised Toledo defensive coordinator Vince Kehres, who has been the team’s defensive coordinator since 2020.
“Coach Vince Kehres, a defensive coordinator that I had there my whole career since I’ve been there. Just to play under that guy, high-energy guy, high-savage guy,” Alexander said. “I just love how he approaches the game, how he coaches the game, how he teaches it. He helped me a long way.”
Alexander said it was Kehres who insisted that Alexander, floundering on the offensive line, needed to be a defensive player.
“So the way I got back to defense, Coach Vince Kehres came in from Mount Union. He seen my tape from that summer before and he went to Coach Candle and said ‘yeah, I need this guy,’” Alexander said. “He said, ‘I don’t know what we’re doing with him on offense’ [and] he said, ‘I need him over here on defense.’ That’s how I got back on defense, so I appreciate Coach Kehres a lot.”
Alexander had a ‘30 visit’ with the Giants.
“The meeting with Coach Dre [defensive line coach Andre Patterson] and Coach Cox ]assistant defensive line coach Bryan Cox] was wonderful,” Alexander said. “I got to go in there and talk to them guys about ball and everything and just what I could do better as a player, and then after the meeting Coach Dre told me, ‘hey, if you’re still on that board and I can get my hands on you, I’m coming to get you’ and he came and got me, so I’m excited.”
