Central Valley senior lineman Brendan Alexander continued to add college scholarship offers all the way through national signing day Wednesday.
After mulling over his options, he decided to sign with Northern Illinois on Thursday.
NEW HUSKIE added to our PACK‼️????
Nothing like adding some more GRIT to an already NASTY D-line!! Welcome Brendan Alexander from Monaca, PA…coming from Central Valley HS!!#TheHardWay ???????? @BrendanAlex50pic.twitter.com/vQgPz199nz
— NIU Football (@NIU_Football) February 6, 2026
Alexander (6-4, 260), who will play defensive tackle, chose the Huskies over more than 20 Division I offers, including Boston College, Duke, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Michigan State, NC State, Penn State, Pitt, Stanford, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, WVU and Wisconsin, among others.
Alexander, a three-star recruit by 247Sports, was named first-team all-state last fall in helping the Warriors reach the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals.
He was credited with 103 total tackles this past season, including 52 solo stops, 15 tackles for a loss and five sacks.
On offense, Alexander helped Central Valley rush for more than 2,300 yards and 30 touchdowns.
Alexander joins a Northern Illinois team in transition. The Huskies were part of the Mid-American Conference but will join the Mountain West Conference for football starting this coming season.