When linebackers Duke Riley and Kendall Beckwith were drafted to the NFL this past year, a noticeable gap opened in the LSU defense; insert Donnie Alexander.
The senior linebacker knew he needed to step up and be a vocal leader for the young linebacker group along with sophomore Devin White.
“We knew we were going to have to step up,” Alexander said.  “We basically make sure they know everything they need to know just like Duke and Beck did with us.”
Freshmen Tyler Taylor and Jacob Phillips have been competing with Alexander for playing time all camp and figure to be a part of the rotation this season.
Alexander is not worried about the rotation of linebackers throughout the game because it is something he has experienced before.
“Last year Coach Aranda rotated us in,” Alexander said.  “We know they’re probably going to be rotated in too.  Anything can happen so you just want the next man to be ready.”
Alexander had offseason shoulder surgery which kept him out of football activities for roughly two months.  Alexander says he has given teammate Arden Key, who is going through a similar injury, some advice about how to deal with a shoulder injury.
“I had my surgery before his,” Alexander said.  “He’ll come ask me what stuff that I was doing in recovery and I was letting him know he was on the right track.”
Key’s status for the BYU game is still up in the air as he has yet to start hitting in practice.
LSU will take on BYU on September 2 from NRG Stadium in Houston.