Former Penn Manor standout Chas Alecxih (#66) knows this drill...Facing new doubters as he bids for a job with the Miami Dolphins, Alecxih will draw on his experience as a walk-on who made the grade at Pittsburgh.
Lancaster New Era 
By MATT PAWLIKOWSKI
Correspondent

He wasn't big enough, he wasn't fast enough. They said he didn't have what it takes to make a Division I football program.

Those were just a few things that former Penn Manor standout Chas Alecxih heard when he went to Pitt.

Alecxih could have quit the game. But instead he was given an opportunity by then-Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt as a preferred walk-on, and thrived on those negatives.

Not only did Alecxih work on his weaknesses, but by his senior year at Pitt he was one of the leaders, finishing with 127 tackles, 29a-x for a loss and 18 sacks. He also forced three fumbles.

Because of his play, many had him pegged as a mid- to late-round pick in the recent NFL draft. But like his Pitt teammates who were hurt by the school's coaching carousel, each round came and passed and he went without a team.

"It was extremely frustrating sitting and watching guys you are better than get picked," Alecxih said. "But at that point you realize, you have done everything that you can do and it is out of your hands."

The interest was there, as 23 teams called him on draft day, but by the seventh round when the San Diego Chargers had called and said they were "thinking" of taking Alecxih, the thought process was then about free agency.

As soon as the draft ended, Alecxih heard from 15 teams, including the Pittsburgh Steelers. But while Dallas eventually offered him the most money, Alecxih's agent felt Miami would be the best fit.

"When you get to that point, you have to trust your agent," Alecxih said. "He looks at rosters and finds where you think you have the best chance of making the team. It happens so fast, if you don't say yes right away, everything is done within five minutes after the draft."

Alexcih signed a rookie free-agent contract, and joined the other Dolphin rookies, including quarterback Ryan Tannehill, along with 50 other players hoping to make the roster.

Although he joked about getting used to the heat, surprisingly he was well prepared for what was thrown at him during the opening two-day practice session and the entire camp (May 11-13), thanks to the pro-style system Wannstedt ran at Pitt.

"It was pretty crazy at the end of the day to realize you were wearing Miami orange," Alexcih said. "But to be honest with you it was a lot like the practices we ran when (Wannstedt) was there. The playbook terminology was a lot like what we had, too. The difference was everyone was good, everyone is a great player. Those (college) days are over."

While Alecxih was back in Miami last week for organized team activities, the way the roster looks now, there are a lot of opportunities.

Miami just switched back to a 4-3 scheme, which utilizes more linemen. Pitt played the 3-4 last season under Todd Graham, but Wannstedt ran the 4-3, giving Alexcih something that most rookies don't have &tstr; knowledge of the two systems.

Currently there are seven signed linemen on the Dolphins roster, including Lebanon and Penn State product Jared Odrick and two other rookies.

"I got passed up out of high school and was able to make the most of it, and plan on doing the same thing here," Alecxih said. "I'll apply the same ethics and morals to succeed here on the next level."

Alecxih is one of several Lancaster County athletes recently signed by NFL teams.

Also bidding for jobs in the pro ranks are former Lancaster Catholic and Temple standout Matt Balasavage, a tight end with the Baltimore Ravens; former Lancaster Catholic and Boston College tight end Ryan Purvis, with the New York Giants; and former Conestoga Valley and Bridgewater College wide receiver Tyler Beiler, with the Pittsburgh Steelers.



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