Ever have one of those days, weeks, or even months where it just doesn’t seem like anything is going your way? Well, don’t complain to Montana State receiver Lonyatta Alexander, Jr. about it. He nearly had an entire year like that.
Alexander, Jr. decided he needed to get a fresh start on his football career after a year with the Washington Huskies. He did what players do in that situation – enter the transfer portal. That move, in turn, led him to Montana State where he immediately suited up for practice and started turning heads.
That’s about when things started getting strange and downright sad for the aspiring pass catcher.
While NCAA transfer rules have loosened up greatly with the advent of the transfer portal, there are still some areas that need special attention and somewhere along the way a ‘t’ wasn’t crossed or an ‘i’ wasn’t dotted. The ensuing effect was Alexander, Jr. having to sit out the entire 2023 season.
“It was difficult getting the news that I couldn’t play last year,” Alexander, Jr. said. “The whole transfer rule was kind of a heartbreak but having people like (head) coach (Brent) Vigen and our coaching staff behind me helped. They pushed me to mentally be here and be in the present.
“Guys like John Shirkey, our sports therapist, that help us out. It’s been amazing to have these kinds of resources. It’s been a very long journey, but I’m blessed and happy to have gone through that because it has helped me to get here and be mentally prepared.”
Sports therapy has moved to the forefront throughout professional and college athletics. Young athletes are often overwhelmed with the responsibility and workload thrust upon them as they navigate their way through both their academic and athletic lives.
“It’s important to be mentally stable and level-headed. You have to be mentally prepared before you can do anything physical, because your mind is controlling your body,” Alexander said. “I think it’s important in athletes’ lives because people don’t know what we go through. We put our bodies on the line every day because football is a violent sport. There are a lot of people who fight individual battles because they don’t have a resource to help them. To be able to have an outlet or resource to talk about what we go through in our everyday lives.”
Along with being unable to play during the regular season, Alexander, Jr. had to watch as his Bobcats were knocked out of the FCS playoffs on a blocked extra point in overtime, then – as if that wasn’t enough – his former team, the Huskies, were surging to the FBS national title game against the University of Michigan.
He remained upbeat throughout it all and draws inspiration from seeing his former teammates excel rather than dwell on what might have been.
“It was amazing to see the guys I played with in 2022 go on a national championship run at the highest level,” Alexander, Jr. said. “Watching (receivers) Rome Odunze (now with the Chicago Bears), Jalen McMillan (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Ja’Lynn Polk (New England Patriots), who I backed up and are in the league now was awesome.
“Watching them motivated me to step into that role here to help lead our team to a national championship as well. Those were my guys and they’re still my guys to this day. They give me bits and pieces on how to prepare mentally and physically to be ready on Saturdays.”
Alexander, Jr. had to make a big philosophical change when he came to Montana State. The football operation on the field is much different from what he was used to in Washington.
“Coming from University of Washington where it was kind of a run-shoot offense and switching to a heavy run offense and precision passing offense, it was different but something I got used to and kind of fell in love with,” Alexander, Jr. said. “There are a lot of teams in the NFL with heavy run offense and precision passing. Being on this team with high caliber players and putting my talent out there as well, I think we’re going to be something special this year. Work our way toward that national championship this year.”
The tone at MSU is something Alexander, Jr. has grown fond of as he feels a connection to the mental approach the Bobcats utilize.
“It all starts with our preparation,” Alexander, Jr. said. “Coach Vigen continues to talk to us about being mentally prepared. If we’re mentally prepared, we can do anything physically. He’s instilled a lot of relentlessness and resiliency in us. That’s helped us start out strong and hopefully, it’ll continue to help us this season. Maybe not even come up with any losses this year and go on a run like we’ve never seen at Montana State.”
With the Bobcats prepping for Mercyhurst this Saturday at 1:00 in Bobcat Stadium, he maintains an even keel as Big Sky Conference play nears.
“Just go out there and do our jobs,” Alexander, Jr. says of the upcoming game. “Be consistent and execute everything. Just have fun with one another. Our goal is to go out and execute and have fun. Respect our opponent but show no fear.
“The off week was really much needed. Got a couple guys coming back, so we’re excited.”
Alexander has caught nine passes for 93 yards this season. Perhaps his biggest catch came during MSU’s game-winning drive against FBS New Mexico to open the season. He reeled in a 37-yard pass on a 3rd-and-10 play to keep the Bobcats out of a perilous fourth down situation and set them up at the UNM 31-yard line as MSU scored five plays later. His nine catches tie him with Ty McCullouch for the team high.
