Better Know a Buckeye: Aramis Alexander

As Ohio State fans look with optimism to the upcoming football season, this year's Better Know a Buckeye series continues in profiling the incoming freshman who hope to make an immediate contribution to the defending national champions. The 13th installment of the 2015 edition of the series profiles Aramis "A.J." Alexander, a jumbo wide receiver (or flex tight end) prospect from Virginia.

A three-star prospect, Alexander ranks well below the median in the 247 composite rankings for Ohio State's star-studded recruiting class. That said, he is one of the more intriguing prospects. Inquisitive Ohio State fans should watch his development in the program with a keen eye. 

This profile discusses Alexander's recruitment and his eventual commitment to Ohio State. Thereafter, I provide a scouting report of Alexander, who has intriguing potential to be a game-changer for his position. I conclude with a projection whether Alexander redshirts in 2015 as well as highlight film for you to watch.

HIS RECRUITMENT

A.J. Alexander's recruitment begins in earnest after his sophomore year of high school. The Virginia native camped at schools within his regional footprint. His first camp was at Penn State. He followed this with camps at Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina. The Virginia camp was an important one. It resulted in his first scholarship offer on June 20th, 2013.

Alexander needed to wait several months (almost a year) before his recruitment gained serious traction. Wisconsin offered in February 2014. Miami and Penn State offered on the same day in April. Ohio State extended its scholarship offer on May 12, 2014.

He decided on a summer evaluation period that focused on two schools. Wisconsin positioned itself nicely too as one of the teams to beat for Alexander's commitment. Ohio State was the other school on his mind. Alexander settled on a trip to Friday Night Lights on July 25 to see Ohio State for himself. He followed this with a trip to Wisconsin the next day. Both visits were a "10" according to Alexander and left him wanting to return for official visits.

While Alexander thought about scheduling official visits early in the fall, he had a change of mind in the first week of September. The decision was still between Ohio State and Wisconsin; Alexander would be playing in the Big Ten this fall. However, he announced he would decide between the two on Friday, Sept. 12.

HIS COMMITMENT

On Sept. 12 last year, A.J. Alexander committed to Ohio State over Wisconsin, becomihg the 13th member of Ohio State's 2015 recruiting class. He broke the news to his team in the locker room before Lake Braddock played Robinson.

Alexander was effusive in praise for Wisconsin, but he felt a greater comfort level with Ohio State.

“Just the level of comfort I had with the staff and the opportunity that presents itself for me to great academic degree and increase the possibility that I can make it to the NFL,” Alexander said. “Ohio State had it all.”

The comment about the NFL is an important one. Earlier in his recruitment, Alexander remarked how he liked both programs he was considering but felt that Ohio State had a marginally (but noticeably) better track to the National Football League.

In our community interview with Alexander, he also revealed the competitive spirit in him that made Ohio State such an attractive choice despite the bevy of talent it possesses ahead of him.

I knew I wanted to play in the Big Ten and coach (Urban) Meyer gave me an offer. Anybody offered by him has the opportunity to be the best. So I figured if I wanted to be the best, I had to play with the best.

WHERE HE EXCELS

A.J. Alexander is well below the median recruit in terms of star rankings, but he will be one of the more interesting players to watch develop in Ohio State's program.

He definitely looks the 6-4 and 220 pounds at which he is billed. Even controlling for the usual caveats we must add when evaluating high school tape, Alexander just looks far too big and strong for the opposition. He'll be too big for safeties and, at least in straight-line speed, too fast for linebackers.

If Alexander proves he's better than what's available to play tight end for the Buckeyes, knowing what talent we have and bring in yearly, he'll have a tree in the ground outside Ohio Stadium in a few years. I think the optimism surrounding what Noah Brown will do as a sophomore translates well to the guarded optimism about Alexander's transition to college football.

I'm pleasantly surprised at how polished Alexander is as a receiver. He runs decent-to-good routes, which is great considering he could just as easily run defenders over if he wanted. He can shake off defenders with his hands or his hips. Watching his film has me wondering how he isn't a high four-star prospect.

He extends his hands nicely as well. He even high-points footballs. This would be nice for a receiver who is 5-11 and 180 pounds. Consider Alexander's size and his hands and concentration become outright enthralling. I don't know if Alexander is the type of football prospect who focused on basketball in his youth and came into football later in adolescence. If he is, it shows (in a good way).

MUST WORK ON

The most obvious concern is Alexander's knee. He suffered an ACL tear not long after committing to the Buckeyes, which cost him more than six months of his development. Alexander says he'll be ready to go next month. I am not that good at forecasting recoveries from high school ACL injuries.

While Alexander receiver is an enamoring prospect, I have not seen much of Alexander in run support. Ohio State's offensive versatility was a selling point over Wisconsin's traditional modus operandi, but he will still be tasked with run blocking. This, in particular, is what makes Noah Brown so intriguing for the Buckeyes going forward.

Finally, Alexander is a more intriguing flex tight end or X wide receiver than he is a conventional tight end. If he's not fast enough to at least be an issue for cornerbacks and safeties, he might move inside. He's fast enough right now, but speed isn't one of his strengths.

REDSHIRT?

This is another judgment call since Ohio State lost Jeff Heuerman to graduation. I think Ohio State may consider redshirting him if Nick Vannett looks the part and if the light flashes inside Marcus Baugh, though Baugh has not shown a lot in his first couple years on campus. That said, Alexander may lose the first month of his time on campus to the last stretches of rehabbing his knee. My best guess is Ohio State will redshirt him, no matter how intriguing or unique Alexander is on the roster.

HIGHLIGHTS

This is from Alexander's junior year.