The Clemson Tigers practice facility hums with the familiar sounds of offseason workouts—the clang of weights, the pop of pads, and the focused shouts of coaches. But for the new guy on campus, linebacker Jeremiah Alexander, the real work starts long before the sun rises.
"I just, you know, try to go 1-0 each and every day," Alexander says with a quiet confidence that belies his intense on-field presence. "Just trying to become the best version of myself and help the guys around me."
That mindset has made an immediate impact, earning him a nickname—"Jerry"—from his teammates and the coaching staff. But it's his actions, not his name, that are making the biggest impression. Head Coach Dabo Swinney, who has only coached Alexander for a few months, has already praised him, saying that if everyone worked as hard as Alexander, his job would be the easiest in the world.
For Alexander, that praise is a testament to the culture he's trying to build. "It's definitely a blessing, man," he says. "I'm just glad to be here and build that relationship with the guys."
The 'Low-Key' Work Ethic That Became a Movement
Alexander's relentless work ethic isn't new. He brought it with him from his time at Alabama, where he says his early morning sessions were more "low-key." But at Clemson, something different is happening.
"When I came here, you know, I was rooming with Peter Woods," Alexander explains. "We just kind of made it a thing just to come in, and everybody else started catching on."
What started as a personal ritual for Alexander and a few teammates has now spread like wildfire. "We got the offensive guys doing it, defensive guys doing it," he says, with a hint of pride. "Just trying to go 1-0 and just become the best versions of ourselves."
That's the kind of leadership a new guy usually doesn't show, but Alexander is proving to be different. He said his first goal when he arrived was to earn the respect of his teammates. "I wanted to show the guys that I'm willing to work and put everything on the line," he says. "Even though I'm new here, I'm going to give the guys everything that I have each and every day."
It's an approach he learned from the man who first taught him the game: his father.
From Youth League to Clemson: A Legacy of Hard Work
When asked where his drive comes from, Alexander doesn't hesitate. "I would have to say my father," he says. He recalls his dad having him and his youth league teammates running stadiums, pushing sleds, and flipping tires. "In order to be the best, you got to work like the best, man," Alexander's dad would say. "Ever since then, we've always been hardworking kids."
That hard work has led Alexander to Clemson, where he's ready to contribute in any way possible, whether it's on special teams or as a Sam, Mike, or Will linebacker. He's also embraced the coaching staff, particularly defensive coordinator Tom Allen and linebackers coach Ben Boulware.
"Coach Allen, first of all, man, his energy... it allows you to want to come to work each and every day," Alexander says. "He just allows us to play fast and physical, keeping the play call simple, and we're just able to go out there and play ball and not think a lot."
As for Boulware, Alexander looks up to the former Clemson champion. "He's won a national championship, so everything that he's done, I'm trying to accomplish," Alexander says. "So it's easy for us to look up to him."
The transition from Alabama to Clemson has been smooth, and Alexander says he already feels at home. "I kind of felt that when I first got here, man," he says, noting the connections he had with Woods and Swinney. "I'm excited to be here, and I definitely will call this place home."
As the Tigers prepare for the season opener, Alexander is taking things one day at a time, but he's also visualizing his future. "Running down that field or running down that hill is something I'm definitely looking forward to," he says. "Each and every game is just going to be a blessing for sure."