That partly explains why CSU was able to sign the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Derrick Thomas, the amazing Chiefs linebacker/DE who died in 2000 just after Donnell celebrated his seventh birthday. CSU doesn’t typically recruit the Kansas City area, but Rams offensive coordinator Pat Meyer was told by a former CSU teammate from the K.C. area that Alexander was the real deal and his backup role last season should not be considered a negative. In fact, it was a perfect way for the Rams to sign a great kid with big-time BCS talent.