Vikings CB Mackensie Alexander understands the meaning of hard work better than most. Born in Haiti, the Alexander family immigrated to Immokalee, FL in search of a better life for their children. The family relied on the children to help make ends meet. For Mackensie, every day started at 3:45 a.m. with he and his brother Mackenro grabbing their work gloves and heavy boots, as they headed out the door for another day in the orange groves.
As a kid, Mackensie Alexander wondered why the other kids didn’t have to put in the back-breaking work that he was doing for his family. Tired of being out in the Groves, Alexander dreamed of something bigger.“When you actually do it (pick oranges) and see how hard it is, that’s going to force you to get out of it, and knowing in the back of your mind, I don’t want to do this forever,” said Alexander.
From an early age, it was evident the way out for Mackensie would be through the game of football. As a youth player, Mackensie’s tireless work ethic caught the attention of one of the NFL’s biggest stars at the time, Indianapolis Colts RB, Edgerrin James, during a local football clinic.
“He was impressed. I’ll never forget it,” Alexander explained. “He said ‘you don’t see kids like you working like this, and he gave me (a pair of his football) gloves and told me to just keep working hard and you’ll achieve your dreams. I just kept working hard and pushing myself to get to this point.” That motivation and desire would bring Mackensie to Immokalee High School, where he would excel at the cornerback position.
Alexander’s production on the football field was good enough to earn him a 5-star recruit rating entering his senior season. Offers from programs across the country poured in. Alexander took official visits to Auburn, Mississippi State, and TexasA&M before making his decision to play for Dabo Swinney at Clemson.
After redshirting his freshman season due to an injury in the preseason, the Clemson fans would be forced to wait until the following year to get a glimpse of the prized recruit. Alexander did not disappoint in his 13 starts. He earned Freshman All-American Honors by the FWAA and was named as an Honorable Mention for the All-ACC team. It was the work he put in off the field that impressed his coaches the most. Even if that meant a midnight text to discuss game-film.
“Midnight, I’d be lying in my bed sleeping, and my phone would ding,” Defensive Coordinator for the Clemson Tigers, Brent Venables remembered. “My wife would say, ‘Who’s texting you at midnight?’ But she got used to it. It was just my nightly text from Mackensie. “
Alexander would follow his dynamic redshirt-freshman season with an even better sophomore season. Playing nearly 600 snaps, Alexander did not give up a single touchdown in man coverage all season long. That was enough to earn him All-ACC honors and Third-Team All-American Honors. NFL scouts took notice and many considered him to be the best man-coverage corner in the country.
Following his breakout season at Clemson, he decided to forgo his final two seasons of eligibility in order to turn pro. Just as he has done throughout his entire life, Alexander trained tirelessly in preparation for the NFL Combine and Pro Day workouts.
The hard work paid off, and the day finally arrived where he would see the fruits of his labor. With his family sitting next to him, Alexander received the life-changing call from Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer in the second round. The Vikings selected Alexander with the 54th overall pick, making him the 6th cornerback to be taken in the 2016 NFL Draft. Though he was happy to be picked, Alexander never wavered in his opinion that he felt that he deserved to be the first cornerback chosen.
“Six cornerbacks were chosen ahead of me. “I’m going to make ‘em pay, don’t worry about that,” said Alexander following the Draft.
Coming from a man that has battled through adversity throughout his entire life, it’s hard to bet against him.
The first step in that battle began at OTAs as Alexander joined the rest of his teammates in Winter Park. Alexander will be competing with veteran Captain Munnerlyn throughout OTAs and during training camp in late July for the nickel-cornerback position. Down the road Alexander could challenge Trae Waynes for the outside corner position opposite veteran Xavier Rhodes.
