Adonis Alexander Bio
Adonis K. Alexander (born November 7, 1996) is an American professional football cornerback currently listed with the St. Louis Battlehawks of the United Football League (UFL). Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing around 190 pounds, he has built a journeyman career that has carried him through the National Football League, the United States Football League, the XFL era, the United Football League, and the Canadian Football League. He is best known for being selected by the Washington Redskins in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL supplemental draft, an unusual entry point that shaped the early arc of his professional journey.
Early Life and Background
Adonis K. Alexander was born on November 7, 1996, in Charlotte, North Carolina, and grew up in the same city. He attended Independence High School in Charlotte, where he developed into a promising defensive back prospect. His size and coverage skills drew attention from college recruiters, and he eventually committed to Virginia Tech to continue his football career at the collegiate level.
At Independence, Alexander played on a competitive high school schedule that helped prepare him for the speed and physicality of ACC football. His development in Charlotte laid the foundation for a college recruitment that brought him into one of the more respected defensive pipelines on the East Coast. Those formative years in Charlotte shaped the disciplined cornerback identity he carried into the next stage of his career.
Path to American Football
Alexander enrolled at Virginia Tech and played college football for the Hokies from 2015 through 2017, lining up at cornerback in the Atlantic Coast Conference. His time in Blacksburg gave him exposure to high-level competition week in and week out, sharpening his technique against top collegiate receivers. The Hokies program has a long tradition of producing NFL-ready defensive backs, and Alexander used his time there to refine his coverage, ball skills, and tackling form.
Heading into his senior year, Alexander was ruled academically ineligible, which prevented him from entering the regular 2018 NFL Draft. That setback created an unusual career fork: rather than wait another cycle, he declared for the 2018 NFL supplemental draft. The supplemental draft is reserved for players whose circumstances have changed after the main draft, and Alexander’s situation fit the criteria, opening the door for him to begin his professional career later that summer.
Adonis Alexander Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
Adonis K. Alexander was selected by the Washington Redskins in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL supplemental draft, becoming one of the few players to enter the league through that avenue that year. He spent the 2018 season working to carve out a role in the Redskins’ secondary, learning the weekly preparation required of an NFL cornerback. The transition from college to the professional level demanded adjustments in route recognition, press technique, and special teams responsibilities.
On August 31, 2019, Alexander was waived by Washington, only to be re-signed to the team’s practice squad the very next day. That brief stay on the open market was followed by his release on October 1, 2019, closing his initial chapter with the Redskins. He finished his Washington tenure with limited regular-season defensive action, recording a small number of tackles in the opportunities he was given.
Washington Redskins Era (2018–2019)
Alexander’s first NFL stop provided his introduction to a professional locker room and to the rhythm of a full NFL season. The Redskins’ defensive staff worked with him on his footwork and awareness, areas that often separate developing cornerbacks from established veterans. His practice-squad stints during this period were valuable learning experiences, even though regular-season snaps were limited.
The supplemental draft process itself was a notable part of his story, as it is a relatively rare route into the league. By being selected, he became part of a small group of players whose professional careers began mid-summer rather than at rookie minicamp. That unusual timing influenced how teams evaluated him in his first year, and it set the tone for a career that would require persistence and adaptability.
Los Angeles Rams Era (2019–2020)
On November 14, 2019, Adonis K. Alexander signed with the Los Angeles Rams’ practice squad, giving him a fresh opportunity in a different organization. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Rams on December 31, 2019, a paperwork move that signaled the team’s intent to keep him in the system through the offseason. Working alongside a veteran secondary, he continued to refine his craft and prepare for the upcoming training camp.
His time in Los Angeles came to an end on September 4, 2020, when he was waived as part of the Rams’ roster trimming ahead of the regular season. Although he did not appear in regular-season games for the Rams, the experience added another NFL environment to his resume and further broadened his professional perspective.
San Francisco 49ers Era (2021)
On January 4, 2021, Alexander signed a reserve/future contract with the San Francisco 49ers, betting on a fresh start in the NFC West. The 49ers have long been known for their defensive creativity, and the opportunity to learn within that scheme appealed to a developing cornerback. Reserve/future contracts are common vehicles for teams to retain or audition talent between seasons, and Alexander used the arrangement to compete for a spot on the depth chart.
That opportunity was short-lived. On May 4, 2021, San Francisco waived him, ending his brief tenure with the organization. Even so, the experience added yet another NFL system to his background, reinforcing his understanding of varied defensive philosophies and the demands of multiple coaching staffs in a short span of time.
New Orleans Saints Era (2021)
On August 4, 2021, Adonis K. Alexander signed with the New Orleans Saints as training camp got underway. The Saints’ secondary was a competitive group, and Alexander looked to make an impression in preseason work. The opportunity represented a chance to lock in a roster spot heading into the regular season.
His time in New Orleans was disrupted when he was waived/injured and placed on injured reserve on August 18, 2021. Just three days later, on August 21, he was waived by the team, closing out his 2021 NFL chapter. The injury and quick release highlighted the thin margins that journeyman defensive backs face in the league.
New Orleans Breakers Era (2022–2023)
Adonis K. Alexander’s professional career took a notable turn when he was selected in the 8th round of the 2022 USFL draft by the New Orleans Breakers. The spring league provided a competitive platform for players seeking another route back into the football mainstream. He was transferred to the inactive roster on April 22, 2022, before being moved back to the active roster on April 30, 2022, settling into his role with the Breakers.
He re-signed with the Breakers on October 3, 2023, continuing his tenure in the spring football circuit. The Breakers later folded when the XFL and USFL merged to create the United Football League, ending that chapter of his career. Across his time in New Orleans, he accumulated meaningful playing time in a league that valued versatile defensive backs.
Michigan Panthers Era (2024–2025)
On January 5, 2024, Alexander was selected by the Michigan Panthers during the 2024 UFL dispersal draft, the mechanism used to assign players from the merged league’s folded teams. He re-signed with the team on August 19, 2024, solidifying his place in the Panthers’ secondary plans. The UFL offered him a more stable role than he had enjoyed in his NFL practice-squad stints, and he grew into a regular contributor in the defensive backfield.
His Panthers tenure represented one of the longer continuous stretches of his professional career, allowing him to build on-field chemistry with teammates and coaches. By the end of his time in Michigan, he had re-established himself as a reliable cornerback at the spring-league level.
BC Lions Era (2025–2026)
On November 5, 2025, Adonis K. Alexander signed a futures contract as a defensive back with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League, expanding his career into an international league. The CFL’s wider field and three-down game present different challenges for defensive backs, and the move represented both a new opportunity and a new football culture to learn. He joined a Lions organization with a long and storied history in Canadian football.
On May 12, 2026, Alexander was released by the Lions as part of their final round of preseason roster cuts, ending his time in British Columbia. The brief CFL stint added another chapter to his well-traveled professional journey.
St. Louis Battlehawks Era (2026–Present)
On June 1, 2026, Adonis K. Alexander signed with the St. Louis Battlehawks of the United Football League, returning to the spring-football landscape. The Battlehawks have developed a strong fan base and a competitive roster, and the signing gave him a fresh platform to showcase his cornerback skills. He currently wears jersey No. 36 with the team and is listed on the active roster.
Notable Events and Milestones
Adonis K. Alexander’s most distinctive milestone remains his selection in the 2018 NFL supplemental draft by the Washington Redskins, an unusual entry point shared by only a handful of players each year. He has now played for organizations spanning the NFL, the USFL, the UFL, and the CFL, marking one of the more varied professional paths among active cornerbacks. His career NFL statistics include a small number of total tackles, reflecting his practice-squad-heavy start in the league.
Adonis Alexander Family
Personal Life
Adonis K. Alexander was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, the city he has continued to be associated with throughout his public profile. Detailed public information about his immediate family, marital status, or children has not been widely confirmed through reliable sources. As a result, this section is limited to what is verifiably documented.
2025 Season Performance
Adonis K. Alexander’s 2025 season was spent with the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League, where he had re-signed on August 19, 2024. He continued in his role as a cornerback in the Panthers’ secondary, building on the momentum from his 2024 dispersal-draft selection. The UFL’s condensed spring schedule gave him opportunities to test himself against a range of offensive schemes and quarterbacks.
Heading into the later months of 2025, his performance with Michigan helped position him for an international opportunity. On November 5, 2025, he signed a futures contract with the BC Lions of the CFL, capping a year that showcased his continued ability to compete at a high level. The move from the UFL to the CFL underscored his adaptability across football’s various professional leagues.