Riverside Academy is one of the best teams in Class 1A as they are currently ranked fourth in both the LSWA Top 10 Poll and the GeauxPreps Power Ratings in Division IV (Select). Not only do they have one of the best rushing attacks in the state that is springboarded by New Orleans area leading rusher Dedric Lastie, but they have one of the best offensive lines in the state as well. That unit is led by none other than Amiree Alexander.
Alexander, who measures 6’2, 320 pounds, is a two-time All-District lineman and an All-Metro selection. He was also named a first-team All-State selection by the Louisiana Sports Writers’ Association in 2022, which is pretty darn good because it was his first year playing on the offensive side of the ball in his high school career. He is also a key piece of the Riverside’s daunting front seven as a nose guard on defense.
Alexander is a very physical lineman and is what you would consider a punisher. Because of his presence in the interior, his aggressiveness has been key in Riverside’s prolific rushing attack as he is willing to get gritty and dirty if that means it will help his team win ball games.
“I’m going to do something before they do it to me,” Alexander said. Because of that attitude, I play with a chip on my shoulder every play.
A huge part of Alexander’s development over the past two seasons has been Riverside Academy head coach Lee Roussel.
“He has helped me with the small things such as my technique,” Alexander said. “He’s on me hard every day and that’s what I need if I want to become the lineman I want to be.”
Before becoming the head coach at Riverside, Roussel was a highly-revered offensive line coach at Nicholls State, where he coached for seven years from 2015 to 2021. In his first season as the offensive line coach in 2015, Roussel coached a unit that had allowed 56 sacks the year before to just 28.
Roussel also mentored FCS All-American offensive lineman PJ Burkhalter. Burkhalter is also the first offensive lineman to win the Southland Offensive Lineman of the Year award in consecutive seasons.
Because of Burkhalter’s success, Roussel makes Alexander watch his highlight reel, something that Alexander enjoys because of their similar styles.
“Every time I watch his tape, it makes me hype,” Alexander says.
Alexander is committed to Southeastern Louisiana, which has been one of the top FCS programs the last few seasons. He also has offers from Nicholls State, Northwestern State and Alcorn State.
A big reason why Alexander committed to Southeastern before the season even started was because of some of his experiences in Hammond. One notable experience he had was the physical play of the team during its spring game in April.
“I felt the energy come off the field as there was big hit after big hit,” Alexander said.
Alexander will not only be remembered as a great football player but he will be remembered as an even better role model off the field as well. Because Riverside Academy is a K-12 school, a lot of the elementary school kids recognize him and often tell him he had a good game with smiles on their faces.
“When I leave Riverside, I want to be known as the guy who made everyone smile whenever I was around them, especially the kids who see me as a role model, Alexander said.
