This former Kennedy Catholic star receiver is back home with the UW Huskies
It wasn’t too long ago Lonyatta Alexander Jr. was hauling in catches at Highline Memorial Stadium in Burien.
In four seasons playing for Kennedy Catholic High School, Alexander was a top target for five-star quarterback Sam Huard, who now holds the state’s all-time passing record.
He spent weekends each season piling up receiving yards and touchdowns, and by the end of his stellar career as a centerpiece in the Lancers’ high-flying offense, ranked among the top receivers in state history.
Now, after spending his true freshman season at Arizona State, Alexander is back at home, playing football at another local stadium about 20 miles further north, and looking to build on that success.
“I’m glad I’m back home,” he said Wednesday morning at Husky Stadium, after UW wrapped up its seventh practice of the spring.
Alexander, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound redshirt freshman, returns to the Pacific Northwest with four seasons of eligibility remaining after appearing in two games with the Sun Devils last fall.
When he entered the transfer portal this winter, he said the Huskies were the first program to reach out.
“I think at that time I was just like, ‘I want to be home. I want to be close to family, I want to play with people I grew up with and played against,’ and next thing you know, I’m back in the purple and gold,” he said.
Alexander announced his commitment to UW in late January, setting up a reunion with a trio of former Kennedy Catholic teammates in Seattle.
Huard and wide receiver Jabez Tinae, now redshirt freshmen, are both entering their second seasons with the Huskies, while sophomore edge rusher Sav’ell Smalls is entering his third on Montlake.
Alexander played the entirety of high school career alongside Huard and Tinae, who were also members of the state’s loaded class in 2021, as well as his junior season with Smalls, as part of a Lancers team that advanced to the Class 4A state quarterfinals.
“Knowing those guys are here and that they’ve always had my back, the transition was pretty smooth coming back home,” Alexander said.
His familiarity playing in an explosive, high-scoring offensive system has also helped him begin to settle in with the Huskies this spring.
“We were Air Raid in high school, so I see a lot of similarities in a lot of terminology that we use that I’m used to out on the field,” Alexander said.
“It’s all similar, so it’s fun. It’s awesome to fly around and catch deep balls and all of that.”
Alexander eclipsed 1,000 yards in a season twice during his high school career, as both a sophomore and junior, and seemed headed for another such season when he was a senior, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed then shortened the football schedule.
Alexander still averaged 100-plus yards per game when the high school season was played the following spring, finishing with 39 catches for 648 yards and 15 touchdowns in his six games played to lead the 4A North Puget Sound League.
“His production, I think, in his high school years is just something you can’t overlook,” Huskies coach Kalen DeBoer said in February. “ … Love his mindset, love his mentality. Exciting to be around. Has great energy.”
Alexander finished his career with 236 catches, 4,032 yards and 63 touchdowns across 37 games, and left high school ranked third in state history in career receiving touchdowns, fifth in career receiving yards and tied for fifth in career receptions.
He was considered a four-star recruit out of high school — he held 17 offers from Division I programs before choosing Arizona State — and was all-state selection as a junior, a two-time TNT All-Area pick, and a Northwest Nuggets and Western 100 selection in 2021.
“Just having him back here — he’s so reliable and has as good of hands as anyone over the middle and in traffic as anyone I’ve met,” Huard said of his former high school teammate earlier this spring.
“To add him to this amazing receivers corps, which I think is one of the best in the country, it’s a really special group.”
Alexander does indeed join a wide receivers room at UW that is stacked with young talent this spring.
The Huskies return three of their top four receiving leaders from last season in sophomores Jalen McMillan, Rome Odunze and Taj Davis, while redshirt freshman Ja’Lynn Polk and junior Giles Jackson — who both transferred to UW ahead of the 2021 season — are also back, as is Tinae.
And Alexander’s addition gives the Huskies yet another skilled pass catcher with big play ability.
“He came in and was ready to learn, and ready to get better and ready to be an asset for the team,” Odunze said. “Being at another college program, it’s like a completely different experience.
“So to come in here and be able to accept the coaching, accept the role that you’re going to play in this and be that explosive asset for us, it’s good. He’s been doing a great job.”
In his first season back home, Alexander is ready to contribute as part of this wide receivers group.
“Seeing our chemistry and our love and our bond with one another, I think we’re going to go pretty far this year,” he said.
Staff writer Jon Manley contributed to this report.
This story was originally published April 14, 2022 at 5:00 AM with the headline "This former Kennedy Catholic star receiver is back home with the UW Huskies."
