LIONS SIGN SECOND-ROUND DRAFT PICKS DE IKAIKA ALAMA-FRANCIS AND S GERALD ALEXANDER; RELEASE RB SHAWN BRYSON
Allen Park, Mich. - The Detroit Lions announced today that they have signed second-round draft choices DE Ikaika Alama-Francis and S Gerald Alexander to four-year deals. Additional contract terms were not disclosed. The team also released RB Shawn Bryson.
Alama-Francis (6-5, 280), was taken by the Lions 58th overall in the 2007 NFL Draft out of Hawaii, where he was tabbed "the most talented defensive lineman I've ever coached" by Hawaii defensive coordinator and former NFL head coach Jerry Glanville. Detroit traded a third round pick (66th overall) and a fifth round pick (145th overall) to New Orleans to move back into the second round to draft Alama-Francis. In 41 games for the Warriors, Alama-Francis started in 26, recording 112 tackles (62 solo) with 10 sacks. He was credited with 24 quarterback pressures, two blocked kicks, and four pass deflections.Â
In 2006 the NFL Draft Report named him to the All-WAC first team and the Super Sleeper Team. Alama-Francis started in 13 games, finishing sixth on the team in tackles (39) and leading his squad with 16 quarterback pressures. He added five sacks to his defensive contributions. Alama-Francis paced the WAC conference with four fumble recoveries while causing two others. Â
Alama-Francis started 12 games at right defensive end in 2005, earning All-WAC second team honors. He led the defensive line with 49 tackles, and finished second on the team with five sacks. Alama-Francis recovered one fumble and forced two, including one against the then USC star QB Matt Leinart. Â
In 2004 he played in 10 games for the Warriors as a reserve at left defensive end. He recorded 22 tackles (15 solo), including two stops for a loss.Â
Alama-Francis was asked to tryout for the football team by head coach June Jones in 2003 after playing the 2002 season with the Warrior's basketball program. His combination of size and athleticism made him a natural to compete for the starting job at defensive end. He saw limited action as a reserve in 2003 before his dedication and work ethic earned him the starting right defensive end job by the start of the 2005 season.
Alexander (6-2, 204), was taken by the Lions 61st overall in the 2007 NFL Draft out of Boise State, where he helped lead the Broncos on to a 13-0 season and dramatic overtime victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. Throughout his career, Alexander played in 51 games for the Broncos and started every game for his final three seasons. He finished his career at Boise State with 161 tackles (117 solo), nine interceptions and 23 passes defended. Â
In 2006 he finished the season with 33 tackles (23 solo), one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He had an exceptional performance against Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl where he recorded four tackles (one for loss), one interception and made the first three stops of the game. He was also credited with shutting down Sooner's star RB Adrian Peterson. After starting all 12 regular season games at safety, Alexander was given the Iron Bronco strength award credited to the football program's strongest athlete.Â
Before moving to safety, Alexander started all 13 games at cornerback in 2005. He finished the season sixth on the team in tackles (50) and first in pass breakups (13), adding one interception to his resume against Fresno State.
Alexander started every game at cornerback in 2004 and finished the season with a team high five interceptions, placing him first in the WAC conference and 16th in the nation with 0.42 interceptions per game. He added 53 tackles and blocked a potential game-winning field goal against San Jose State in the final seconds of regulation. Alexander also set the school record with an impressive vertical jump of 41.5 inches.  Â
In 2003 Alexander played as the third cornerback and special teams player for the Broncos. He finished the season with 20 tackles and one interception, including a season-best five tackles against UTEP. Alexander redshirted during the 2002 season.Â
Bryson (6-1, 230), first joined the Lions prior to the 2003 season and then re-signed with the team during the 2006 offseason. After a solid start last season, he suffered a knee injury against Buffalo (10/15) and was subsequently placed on the reserve/injured list October 16.
In 2005 he saw action as a tailback, fullback and kick-returner and finished the season as the team's fourth-leading receiver (37 receptions). Bryson's season was highlighted by a career-long 77-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter against Baltimore (10/9) which was the longest by a Lions' running back since Barry Sanders had an 80-yard run vs. Indianapolis (11/23/9) as well as the longest run from scrimmage ever yielded by the Baltimore Ravens.
Bryson started 13 games for Detroit in 2003 and rushed for a career-high 606 yards on 158 carries (3.8 avg.) and three touchdowns, while also posting a career-high and team-leading 54 receptions. He finished the 2004 season as the Lions second leading rusher (264 yards) and receiver (44 receptions).
The eight-year running back spent the first four seasons of his career with the Buffalo Bills, where he rushed for 967 yards on 254 carries (3.8 avg.) and caught 41 passes for 330 yards. His best season in Buffalo came in 2000 when he rushed for 591 yards.
Buffalo drafted Bryson in the third round (86th overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft out of Tennessee. While with the Volunteers, Bryson started every game during his junior and senior season and his college career was highlighted by winning the National Championship in 1998. Prior to Tennessee, Bryson was a four-sport standout at Franklin (N.C.) High School and was an all-America, all-state and all-conference selection as well as the Western North Carolina Player of the Year.
