Key Takeaways
- Pitt freshman cornerback Mason Alexander, 18, died in a car accident Saturday in Indiana.
- The four-star recruit was known for his competitive spirit and “next-level talent.”
- Alexander had overcome his father’s death at age eight to become a standout athlete.
The football community is mourning the tragic loss of Mason Alexander, an 18-year-old freshman cornerback at the University of Pittsburgh and a Hamilton Southeastern graduate, who passed away in a car accident on Saturday night in Fishers, Indiana.
Just three days before his passing, Alexander had given his first media interview as a college football player.
100% COMMITTED @CoachDuzzPittFB @ARCHIECOLLINS_ @coachcsanders #RIPPops #HailToPitt #H2P pic.twitter.com/iLFfFFLZMw
— Mason “Money Man” Alexander (@MAlexander_15) June 26, 2024
Confident and full of promise, he wore a gold “M” chain around his neck and spoke about his journey to Pitt, his passion for the game, and his competitive mindset as a cornerback.
Alexander said,
“At that corner spot, they say we just get paid to cover. I don’t believe in that. I get paid to hit, cover, lock you up, make sure you don’t have one catch on the field. I don’t care if you are the best receiver or the worst receiver.”
However, his bright future was tragically cut short in a devastating car accident.
Pitt Football Class of 2025 Breakdown: Mentally Tough CBshttps://t.co/vkG75dhfOh via @PghSportsNow pic.twitter.com/4fYW2hGi88
— Pittsburgh Sports Now (@PghSportsNow) January 8, 2025
According to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Alexander was a passenger in a 2016 BMW traveling south on Florida Road near 113th Street when the driver attempted to pass another vehicle.
While trying to avoid an oncoming car, the BMW overcorrected, veered off the road, hit a tree, and caught fire.
Alexander was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 9 p.m. The crash remains under investigation.
A Rising Star with A Bright Future
Alexander was a four-star recruit and one of the top cornerback prospects in the country.
A two-time all-state selection, he played a crucial role in Hamilton Southeastern’s success, including anchoring their 4×100-meter state championship relay team.
After watching every championship game last week I know @Pitt_FB is getting a young man who will be one of the top DBs in the COUNTRY! Gonna be the next dawg under @ARCHIECOLLINS_ wing! FAST AND PHYSICAL! 1 more month my boy keep ya foot on they necks @MAlexander_15 😤‼️ pic.twitter.com/IITVeK0j7e
— Millz2BeMade Training (@CoachMillz_) December 11, 2024
His commitment to Pitt over offers from Purdue, Wisconsin, and other top programs was a testament to his talent and determination.
Hamilton Southeastern football coach Michael Kelly expressed his heartbreak over the loss, describing Alexander as a special young man with an infectious positivity.
Kelly said,
“To be honest, I don’t know if I’m still in shock, but the hardest thing to think about is how things like this happen to people, especially somebody like him. He had a presence and positivity about him that was unique. He didn’t think he was bigger than life in any way, and he had next-level talent.”
Overcoming Adversity
Alexander’s journey to athletic stardom was not without challenges.
His father, Johnny Alexander, passed away from a heart attack on June 14, 2015, when Mason was just eight years old.
Signing Tmr 8am@HSE 😝 pic.twitter.com/9pGaTUmVVX
— Mason “Money Man” Alexander (@MAlexander_15) December 3, 2024
Devastated by the loss, he briefly quit football before being encouraged to return by his mother, Kelly Harris, and older brother, Jordan.
Jordan recalled,
“Mason was his favorite. My dad always said he saw himself in Mason. That was his guy. When that happened, it took a toll on Mason. I wanted to make sure I was there for him.”
Despite his grief, Alexander channeled his pain into his passion for football.
THE MONEY MAN ⭐️
— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) December 4, 2024
MASON “MONEY MAN” ALEXANDER IS A PITT PANTHER ✍️ @MAlexander_15 #HailToPitt x #TIME25HINE pic.twitter.com/Wfeiv76Lly
By his sophomore year, he had gained national recognition, earning multiple Division I scholarship offers.
He wore the No. 15 jersey and kept a No. 15 pendant on his chain in memory of the day he lost his father.
