Here's the Lo-down
August 14, 2006

By Brett Borden
Panthers.com

The best stories in training camp are usually the ones you weren't expecting.

Case in point, defensive tackle Lorenzo Alexander. Playing a position at which the Panthers are loaded, Alexander faces an uphill battle making the team this season. But instead of giving up, he is giving his all, and because of that he just may surprise everyone when cut day arrives.

"Lorenzo brings total commitment and work ethic," said defensive line coach Sal Sunseri. "He's a very reliable guy. He goes out there every single day and is accountable for his play. He's done a tremendous job and has really become a better football player since joining us a year ago. He's gotten stronger, stouter, and I'm really pleased with him."

Alexander arrived in Carolina in late April of 2005 as an undrafted rookie free agent. He fought hard for a roster spot in training camp last year, was waived by the team on September 3 and then signed to the practice squad two days later, where he remained all season.

At St. Mary's High School in Berkely, CA, Alexander won the Watkins Award, a national award which recognizes outstanding performance in both athletics and academics among African American students. He excelled on the football field at California, where he was a second team All-Pac 10 selection as a senior in 2004. Easygoing yet hard working, this is an easy guy to root for in training camp or any endeavor in life.

"I just try to outwork the next guy," said Alexander. "I'm not as gifted as some players, so I have to work extra hard to get things done on the field, just running to the ball and trying to make my presence known in that manner.

"Being able to learn from guys like Brentson Buckner, Julius Peppers and Mike Rucker&all of those guys are great guys as far as helping young guys out. It made my transition that much smoother this year. I'm learning from Tony Brown, another undrafted guy coming in, too."

The leader by example among undrafted defensive linemen is Jordan Carstens. Carstens beat the odds two seasons ago and has started 16 games since then. He gives guys like Alexander a living example of what can be accomplished.

"JC helped me out a lot last year, too," Alexander said. "He got a break when Kris (Jenkins) went down and he was able to move up. I may have been on the practice squad last year, but I was still learning everything as far as the playbook and the gameplan because you never know."

Still, there is the reality that there are several talented players in camp along the defensive line, and the Panthers can't keep all of them. Alexander refuses to let it keep him from doing his best.

"I'm not even worried about that," he said. "It's always in the back of your mind, but I'm just trying to go out there and play as hard as I can. Seeing us bring in guys like (Maake Kemoeatu and Damione Lewis) just makes me step my game up, so whether I end up here or on another team, it's only going to make me better."