Career days for Perry, Alexander come after long journeys

Perry and Alexander have battled inconsistency and injuries.

By Evan Glantz

Published Sept. 19, 2009

In 2006, two freshman wide receivers began their careers with Missouri. One came in with the size every coach dreams about for a receiver. The other came in and was so skinny coaches and teammates took to calling him "Toothpick."

But over the past four years, the careers of seniors Danario Alexander and Jared Perry have been a roller coaster ride of both big and frustrating moments.

As a freshman, Alexander caught 16 passes for 188 yards. Perry amassed 37 receptions, 429 yards and added four touchdowns.

The latter was named Missouri’s Freshman of the Year and The Sporting News named him to the Big 12 All-Freshman team in addition to an Honorary Mention Freshman All-American.

The future seemed bright for the two, until opportunities passed by and injuries hit harder than a linebacker up the middle.

“You want to ask why, but that can bring you down,” Alexander said. “That can bring down my spirit. I try and keep my spirit high and not try and think about the bad things.”

Perry echoed those sentiments.

“It’s just been opportunity for me,” Perry said. “I’ve been waiting for this opportunity and I’m trying to make the best of it.”

If either player has resentments, they have not shown it.

After losing an experienced receiving corps last year, the two seniors knew their leadership role would be expanded for the 2009 season.

It is a role that they both have embraced and relished.

“Even before the game I tell (Alexander) it’s him and me,” Perry said. “We’ve got to make plays, we’ve got to keep it going, let’s start it going right now. We just lead. That’s our biggest thing.”

Injuries and bad luck have not been kind to the two seniors. Alexander has had to deal with three knee surgeries among other injuries in his career and Perry has had to deal with his own assortment of bumps and bruises.

As both struggled to stay healthy and consistent, other receivers became the primary playmakers -- guys such as Jeremy Maclin, Tommy Saunders and Chase Coffman.

“Both of them have had their ups and downs,” coach Gary Pinkel said. “But they have a lot of pride and I think they’re big-play players. And certainly their experience is helping us.”

On Saturday, Perry and Alexander each set personal milestones. Perry was the offensive star of the game, as he caught seven passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns –- all in the first half. It was the first time Perry eclipsed the 100-yard mark in a game, and also the first multiple-touchdown game of his career.

Ironically, his first touchdown of the day came on a pass thrown by Alexander. After sophomore quarterback Blaine Gabbert flipped the ball to Alexander, he launched it 40 yards to a wide-open Perry who scored easily.

But Alexander was not only dishing out the bombs, he was reeling them in. His first score came on a 16-yard pass from Gabbert early in the second quarter.

The two connected again at the end of the half from 17 yards out. Like Perry, it was Alexander’s first two-touchdown game of his career. But which feat was he more proud of -- the pass or the two catches?

“It was the pass of course,” he said. “I’ve been wanting to throw a touchdown pass my whole college career, and I finally got a chance to do that today.”