SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Brent Venables remembers the first time he heard Rufus Alexander’s name. The Oklahoma defensive coordinator was sitting in a Dallas hotel in December of 2001 when he caught a call.

“The guy told me there was this kid in Baton Rouge you ought to take a look at,” Venables recalled.

Little did he know how memorable the name would become.

Alexander, OU’s weakside linebacker, will play his final game when the seventh-ranked Sooners (11-2) face No. 9 Boise State (12-0) at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the Fiesta Bowl.

Friday was a good day for the reigning Big 12 defensive player of the year to reflect. Of course, there’s plenty to reflect upon.

Recruiting tale

Venables still laughs about the first time he met Alexander. He remembers arriving at the Baton Rouge Airport to meet with Alexander’s high school coach David Barham.

Alexander was a highly sought recruit out of Christian Life Academy. And the natives don’t like it when out-of-state coaches try sneaking a player out of LSU’s back yard.

The guy at the rental car counter thought that way. Once he saw the OU logo on Venables’ shirt, he told the Sooner coach he was wasting his time.

If that wasn’t enough, Venables requested a full-size, non-smoking vehicle but received a jalopy that smelled like an ash tray.

But Venables was sold after seeing Alexander on tape.

“I loved what I saw,” Venables said. “He was devastating.”

Development

The self-professed “quiet kid” from Breaux Bride, La., had grown into a dominating defender. And his growth went beyond the football field.

Alexander grew up the youngest of Siene Champ’s three sons. A single mother, she worked three jobs to support her family.