When former Alabama football linebacker Jeremiah Alexander first got to Clemson , he said Dabo Swinney emphasized that the former five-star athlete turned the Tigers down "at the altar," picking the Crimson Tide first.
But talking to reporters as the newest member of Clemson 's linebacker room, Alexander said Swinney repeatedly told him "God doesn't make mistakes" about the linebacker's path to the Tigers.
"The time at Alabama , I wouldn't trade it for nothing," Alexander said. "I feel like it made me the man I am today. But just being able to have the opportunity to come in the portal. Coach (Dabo) Swinney doesn't take a lot of guys out of the portal. We brought in three this year. Just having that opportunity and that connect with Peter Woods made it a lot more easier and more efficient."
In three seasons at Alabama , Alexander, the former No. 18 player in the 2022 recruiting class per 247Sports' composite rankings, had 11 tackles in 28 games, playing 57 total snaps on defense per Pro Football Focus.
Alexander played 21 snaps for the Crimson Tide in its ReliaQuest Bowl loss to Michigan "not knowing I was going to hit the portal," he said.
"For me, with two years being left of eligibility," Alexander said, "obviously I want to play the game that I love on Saturdays and get the opportunity to showcase my abilities."
Another big factor in Alexander's transfer was Clemson defensive lineman Peter Woods , who played with the new Tigers linebacker at Thompson High School in Alabaster.
When Alexander first entered the portal, he said Woods reached out on FaceTime and said, "You know where to come."
"Peter played a big factor in it," Alexander said. "We played high school ball together, youth leagues. Since we started playing football, we have always had relationships. Peter Woods being here played a big factor, and coming here just because of our past relationships, and what we were able to do in high school together. That played a good factor into the process of me coming here and feeling comfortable."
Through Woods, Alexander said he knew he would be a "good fit for the locker room" and for the team as a whole.
"I felt like Clemson was the best university where I could develop as a player as well as a man each and every day," Alexander said.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Why did former Alabama football linebacker transfer to Clemson?
