PHOENIX — You’ve heard of Revis Island. But how about Mackensie’s Manor?
Few wide receivers have found the accommodations very appealing. Even fewer offensive coordinators have ventured to explore it.
“I am having a dominant year. I do my job better than anybody else in the country,” said Mackensie Alexander, Clemson’s loquacious cornerback. “It’s basically what they do with Revis.”
That would be Darrelle Revis, the Jets’ All-Pro cornerback. Alexander obviously doesn’t lack confidence, but there are reasons for his confidence. Plenty of them.
The 5-foot-11 defensive back from Immokalee, Fla., hasn’t allowed a passing touchdown in 23 games. He limited Notre Dame star Will Fuller to two catches for 37 yards, Fuller’s lowest output of the season. If he declares for the NFL draft, Alexander is expected to be a first-round pick.
“I feel like I’m the best and biggest man in the country, and I go out there and do it,” Alexander said.
In the Orange Bowl, Oklahoma was the latest to avoid Alexander, moving wide receiver Sterling Shepard into the slot after Alexander took him out of the game. Overall, he gave up two catches for 27 yards and was targeted six times.
The redshirt sophomore expects the same Monday night, against Alabama big-play wideout Calvin Ridley, who has broken Amari Cooper’s record for most receiving yards in a season as a freshman. While complimenting the speedy Ridley and saying he’s familiar with his accomplishments, he shot down the idea Ridley will be a major test.
“Once you understand what’s going on, who he is and what he does, how he makes his plays, it’s like taking candy from a baby,” he said.
Alexander likes to talk to opponents, but he doesn’t research players to get them off their game.
“I don’t talk trash,” he said. “I speak facts.”
“You got to watch what you say around him,” defensive end Shaq Lawson said. “You say somebody is the best receiver and he’ll get mad quick. He’s a very competitive guy.”
He’ll remind receivers how little they are doing against him. But Alexander doesn’t like to hear about elite receivers and their accomplishments.
When asked if he’s college football’s version of Revis — at least the in-his-prime Revis — Alexander laughed. He wants to be the best Mackensie Alexander, and he has plenty to prove before he can be compared to the best corners in the NFL.
But that’s his goal, after leading Clemson to a national title Monday night, and it isn’t just talk, those close to him say. Alexander is a film buff, spending hours upon hours studying opponents, learning opposing receivers’ tendencies, their strengths and weaknesses.
“He’s in there as much as I’m watching it,” Clemson defensive backs coach Mike Reed said with a laugh. “If I’m not in my office, he’s in my office. Five minutes after a game, he’s watching film.
“If you’re thinking, you’re stinking. He doesn’t think a lot, he plays. Watching a lot of film allows you to just react.”
