Zacori Alexander wondered for quite some time if he might be the next in an endless list of talented yet overlooked Texas football players who never got a shot at the collegiate level.
The Wilson High (Dallas) School senior caught seven touchdowns his junior season, but his 27 catches were fourth-most on his own team. He entered the final spring of his recruiting cycle without a single scholarship offer in hand.
“I think there’s a lot of guys in Texas who are over looked because there’s so many good dudes,” Alexander said in an interview with Skyline Sports in July. “That’s just Texas football. Me and my coaches talk about this all the time. There’s a lot of people out there better than other people but they might not have the size or the weight. Some people have different work ethics and that’s tough to notice in recruiting.”
Wilson High (Dallas) senior Zacori Alexander/ contributed
In May, Montana State quarterbacks coach DeNarius McGhee, himself a Dallas native, watched Alexander participate in Wilson’s 7-on-7 and spring practice sessions. McGhee began recruiting Alexander, mostly via text. McGhee emphasized to Alexander he liked his explosiveness and work ethic, telling the 6-foot-2, 190-pounder he thought he could be a big-time playmaker for MSU, Alexander said.
“He said he would stay in touch,” Alexander said. “I didn’t think I was going to get an offer but God blessed me with one and it was from Montana State, my first offer.
“That was like the best thing ever. I didn’t expect it at all. At the time, I didn’t know if I was good enough. I was just trying to make myself better. When they offered, that meant the world to me.”
More offers came this summer, first from FCS up-and-comer Abilene Christian, located about 180 miles West of Dallas. Then McNeese State, an FCS school in Lake Charles, Louisiana about 300 mils southeast of Dallas offered.
Alexander’s relationship with McGhee and his trust in the MSU coaching staff in general caused him to verbally commit to the Bobcats. He went on a visit to McNeese and he’s never been to Bozeman. Yet he believes Montana State is the place for him, even if National Signing Day is still seven months away.
“I just love the coaching staff,” Alexander said. ‘They were all on me, for sure that I was definitely going to make big plays there. Abilene, we didn’t talk that much at all, they just offered me and I never heard from them. McNeese, I took a visit down there actually and it wasn’t a bad place. I just didn’t see myself playing there.”
“I just really trust the coaches. They say Montana is a good place. I looked it up and man, it looks like an awesome place to live and go to school at. I am going to take a visit down there in mid-September. I’m going to enjoy it, I know it.”
Montana State quarterbacks coach DeNarius McGhee/ by Brooks Nuanez
Former Montana State head coach Rob Ash and his staff had tremendous success mining talent from the Lone Star State. McGhee won two Big Sky Conference Offensive MVPs and led MSU to three straight Big Sky titles. Fellow former Euless Trinity High studs Tray Robinson and Na’a Moeakiola also starred for the Bobcats. Linebacker Jody Owens came to MSU from Mesquite, Texas and earned All-American honors two years in a row, winning the Big Sky Defensive MVP in 2012. At one point during the height of the Ash era, Montana State’s roster was about 25 percent from Texas.
Montana State currently has eight players from Texas on its roster: senior running back Nick LaSane, junior tight end Curtis Amos, junior cornerback Braelen Evans, redshirt freshman running back Anthony Pegues, senior cornerback Bryce Alley, senior wide receiver Justin Paige and junior defensive tackle Zach Wright.
With McGhee back on staff, Montana State is working diligently to keep the pipeline flowing. MSU currently has commitments from Alexander and 3-star Aledo, Texas defensive tackle James Williams, although Williams has declined interview requests from Skyline Sports while he continues weighing his options.
“Coach McGhee told me about his experience at Montana State and the atmosphere out there, next level,” Alexander said. “He told me a lot of people care for each other there. Coach McGhee, he’s a great guy. He has a great personality and he’s sure of what he talks about. He’s just a great person, man. I appreciate what he did for me because he really got me out there.”
Last season, Justin Cain posted a 1,000-yard receiving season for Wilson before earning a scholarship from Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Speedy junior Travis West caught 53 balls for 904 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior. He also holds offers from Abilene Christian and MSU, along with Army. Alexander said he’s spent the summer training so he can have an elevated role in Wilson’s offense. Last season, he caught 27 passes for 395 yards and the seven scores.
Zacori Alexander/ contributed
Alexander also said knowing there are Texas players having success at MSU and that McGhee is continuing recruiting his home turf “makes me a lot more comfortable.”
“At first, I was like, ‘man, I’m I going to be the only dude from Texas?’ This makes me feel so much better,” Alexander said with a laugh.
Alexander has been in contact with Montana State head coach Jeff Choate as well. Choate has sold Alexander on the culture he is trying to create along with the vibrant campus, specifically the top-notch business school, Montana State offers. Alexander is interested in studying business.
By this time next year, Alexander will likely be in Bozeman training with his college team. Until then, he’s dead set on continuing his development in hopes of becoming the best athlete he can be.
“Making this decision still means I have to work, I have to continue to grind, I have to keep going and never stop,” Alexander said. “I also want to be a big part of my teammates’ lives, make everyone better. I want everyone to have the opportunity to be their best and for that, we have to work together. That’s what I want the most.”
Photos courtesy of Alexander. All Rights Reserved.
