Alexander a Viking, too

NORMAN, Okla. -- One day after taking Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson in the first round, the Minnesota Vikings came back to take Sooner linebacker Rufus Alexander in the sixth. The Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year is the second OU player selected in this year's NFL draft.

It is a bit of a strange twist from Minnesota, which prior to this year had not chosen an Oklahoma player since 1992.

Alexnader finished his career with 296 tackles, which ranks No. 13 all-time for a Sooner linebacker. He became the first Sooner since Rocky Calmus to lead the team in tackles in two straight years when he had 102 in 2005 and 116 in 2006.

After his senior season, Alexander was named first team All-America by the American Football Coaches Association.

OU head coach said he thought the fact that Peterson and Alexander had gone to the same franchise might make for a smoother transition.

"We're real happy for Rufus and his family, and it's great that he and Adrian are going to the same team," he said. "I would think that would make things more comfortable for both of them."

Stoops said he liked Alexander's sudden play.

"Rufus made a lot of plays for us," Stoops stated. "He is a sure tackler with very good closing speed. He got to a lot of ball carriers here and I don't remember very many of them getting away.

"I also just enjoyed being around him. He grew a lot as a player and a man over the course of his time here and I think that's very gratifying for him and for our coaches. He became a leader that we depended on."

Alexander's selection means that an Oklahoma linebacker has been drafted in six of the last seven years. Last year, Clint Ingram went in the third round to Jacksonville.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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