COVINGTON —Covington senior Trentin Alexander has always had a passion for the game of football and is relishing the opportunity Wilmington College has offered him to continue strapping it up at the collegiate level.

“I love football and I can’t wait to prove myself,” said Alexander after committing on Wednesday to attend Wilmington with his parents Trent Alexander and Chrystal Reynolds by his side, along with his sister Hannah.

Alexander, who also competes in wrestling and track at Covington, had interest from Indiana Wesleyan, Toledo, Akron, Valparaiso, Mount Union and Mount St. Joseph, but he fell in love with Wilmington during his two visits.

“It reminds me of Covington,” Alexander said of Wilmington. “It’s a small school where there are strong relationships. Coach (Brian) Moore and his staff care about the players and the professors actually teach one-on-one if that’s what a student needs. The classes are small, so there is a lot of individual interaction between the professors and the students.”

The Buccaneer senior is big on academics as evident by his 3.6 GPA and the fact that he was an all-academic selection in the league all four years.

“I plan on majoring in Criminal Justice,” said Alexander. “Wilmington has a great curriculum and I’m fortunate it’s close to home.”

Alexander will arrive on campus ahead of the curve thanks to the credits he earned in high school through College Credit Plus.

“I started College Credit Plus my sophomore year, so I have a pretty good start already,” Alexander continued. “I already have my prerequisites out of the way, so I can go right in and start my major.”

Alexander was a standout for the Buccaneers on the football field as a four-year letterman under head coach Tyler Cates. Playing fullback on offense and nose guard on defense, Alexander was first-team all-league in his junior and senior seasons, a first-team Southwest District selection as a senior and earned second-team All-Ohio as a senior.

“Not only is he an outstanding football player, but Trentin is one of the best human beings I’ve ever coached,” said Covington coach Tyler Cates. “To give you an idea of the type of kid he is, he is the only kid to shake my hand and thank me every day. He has a great attitude, he’s unselfish and he’s a true leader.”

Alexander has a high level of respect for his coaches and credits them for a rewarding high school experience and preparing him for the collegiate level.

“My coaches pushed me to my potential,” said Alexander. “They helped me establish a great work ethic with early morning lifts, staying late to get in extra reps. They just taught me good work ethic and striving to get better each and every day.”

That work ethic also led to an outstanding wrestling career at Covington where Alexander qualified for the state wrestling meet as a senior.

“I wrestled to stay in shape for football and had fun doing it,” explained Alexander. “

Coach Cates has witnessed Alexander’s work ethic and leadership first hand.

“His work ethic is his strength,” Cates said. “Obviously, during school we have lifting after school and during the winter and spring if kids are in another sport it is difficult for them to get into the weight room. But Trentin got more and more kids to come to early morning lifting before school – kids who were in other sports in the afternoon who couldn’t make it in the afternoon sessions.”

Cates feels Alexander’s work ethic and relentlessness will provide early results at Wilmington.

“They (the Wilmington coaches) love how hard he plays,” said Cates. “Being smaller, he always plays with a chip on his shoulder and that stands out on film. I know they are excited to have him.”

And Alexander is relishing the opportunity.