Exclusive: Inside Sedrick Alexander’s Decision to Stay at Vanderbilt Over NFL Draft
Exclusive: Inside Sedrick Alexander’s Decision to Stay at Vanderbilt Over NFL Draft
One of Vanderbilt football’s running backs had the option to go pro earlier this offseason, but chose to stay. Here’s why.Graham Baakko|
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Vanderbilt CommodoresVanderbilt running back Sedrick Alexander could have ended his collegiate career in Nashville a year early. After his junior season, he had the option to take his career to the next level and enter the NFL Draft, but he did not.
Instead, Alexander is back for his final season wearing the black and gold. It was a decision that he pondered with family in the early stages of the offseason and felt that returning to Vanderbilt for his senior year made the most sense.
“I think that here at Vandy, I have unfinished business. I think that getting my degree this past spring was a big factor, and just me not wanting to make that step yet, and just wanted to stay with the team,” Alexander told Vandy On SI on what ultimately led him to staying in college. “I believe in Coach Lea and the things that he's doing. I have one more year of eligibility. I felt like this gave me a better chance to get drafted, so I decided off of that too. And I just think that this is the year.”
In those conversations he had with his parents and other loved ones, Alexander and his family took a close look at the facts of his situation. Being able to graduate and get his degree was something that was very important and played a role in his decision to return for another season.
Another thing that he felt like he could not leave behind was the relationships he has made with his teammates and coaches. Alexander has built close bonds with many guys on the roster and he did not want those to end sooner than they have to.
But the ability to improve and put more things on tape is what also drove his decision. With Vanderbilt having a new quarterback leading the offense in 2026, Alexander feels like he has an opportunity to showcase his skills in various ways before going pro.
Thinking through all those factors ultimately led him to the conclusion that it would be best for him to stay at Vanderbilt.
Going into this fall, Alexander is fourth among SEC returning players in career rushing touchdowns and third among returning SEC running backs in career scrimmage yards and total touchdowns. Moreover, he also leads returning SEC running backs in career receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
The talent for Alexander is there, but he knows he has to get better in order to elevate his draft stock for next year.
“One of the biggest things for me is I think one of the biggest things that a scout probably wants to see is, can he be consistent. Can you be consistent from last year or better? So, not having a drop off, but just having a better year, and then showing them that I'm a team player and I'm willing to run, pass, and block,” Alexander said.
Alexander is confident in himself and in his ability in all three phases of playing running back: running, catching and blocking. The so-called improvement is seen as consistency and replication in his eyes. Being able to put the same technique in his pass protection and other facets of his game time and time again is what he wants to show the most.
Vanderbilt’s offense will look different with a new quarterback this season, whether it be five-star Jared Curtis or someone else. And whichever quarterback that ends up winning the starting job will almost certainly not be anywhere near the runner that Diego Pavia was. Last season, Pavia was the team’s leading rusher with 862 yards to Alexander’s 567. Reason would say that leaves plenty of more opportunities for Alexander to showcase his talent.
In the scope of SEC football conversations, Alexander has not been known as a feared running back in the conference. Perhaps that was largely due to the running threat that Pavia was, which took attention away from Alexander. Despite having under 600 rushing yards in 2025, he still averaged 5.4 yards per carry on 105 attempts.
Alexander feels like he is a running back that teams should watch out for because he has the talent to back it up.
“I think my film tells it all. I think I have great film,” Alexander told Vandy On SI.
He may not have to break any records or win any awards to get on the radar of NFL scouts. But Alexander wants to make sure his decision to stay at Vanderbilt will be one that proves that he is an example of what staying in college for an extra year can do for a player’s career long term.
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Published Jun 19, 2026
GRAHAM BAAKKOGraham Baakko is a writer for Vanderbilt Commodores On SI, primarily covering football, basketball and baseball. Graham is a recent graduate from the University of Alabama, where he wrote for The Crimson White, WVUA-FM, WVUA 23 as he covered a variety of Crimson Tide sports. He also covered South Carolina athletics as a sportswriting intern for GamecockCentral.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
