Bear Alexander explains what he tells USC teammates that ask him about national championships

Star defensive lineman Bear Alexander transferred from Georgia to USC, meaning he brings national championship experience to the Trojans. This has, naturally, led to questions about that championship experience.

Alexander explained what he tells teammates when they ask about what it takes to win a national championship.

“It takes hard work,” Bear Alexander said. “It takes having a good approach, a good intent. Just going into these situations with the right mindset and prepare.”

Last season, Alexander was a key player on Georgia’s team, playing in 12 games and making two sacks and three tackles for loss as an interior defensive lineman. That was his only season with the Bulldogs in what looked like a promising career in Athens.

Of course, Bear Alexander still has a promising career. It’ll just be in Los Angeles now. After all, as a recruit, he nearly signed with Lincoln Riley and Oklahoma out of high school.

“I was actually secretly committed [to Oklahoma],” Alexander admitted. “I ended up going to Georgia, but it was close.”

Now, he’s transferring to USC, where he expects to be an every down player in a way that he likely wouldn’t have been if he stayed at Georgia. Beyond that, he felt like going to USC was a no-brainer given its location.

“[There are] more significant snaps and just being a first, second, third down player. I knew I was coming here. It was kind of a no-brainer,” Alexander said.

“There wasn’t much of a pitch. Like I said, I knew I was coming here and it was kind of a no-brainer. I mean it’s Southern Cal. It’s full of stars. That’s it.”

Bear Alexander on his nickname

One unique thing about Bear Alexander is his nickname and that he inherited the nickname from his father.

“It was my dad’s nickname and I kind of just wanted to live his name through a different way,” Alexander said. “I kind of just took on his nickname early.”

On3’s Jesse Simonton knows that Bear Alexander is a massive talent, explaining on Andy Staples On3 that he’s an under-the-radar difference maker.

“This is a guy that could absolutely transform USC’s defense,” Simonton said. “They need defensive linemen. They need interior pass-rushing help. He could provide both of those this season in their final season and quest to win the Pac-12 Championship for the first time since 2017 and next season, Year 1 — when he’s trying to put on the tape to go to the NFL — when they’re playing in the Big Ten.”