CORVALLIS — After missing Oregon State's first two games while recovering from a right knee injury, D.J. Alexander appreciated making his first appearance of the season at Utah on Saturday.
The junior started at strongside linebacker, finishing with four total tackles in the 51-48 overtime win over the Utes. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound Alexander made an instant impact with his aggressive play, but he grew fatigued as the game progressed.
"I got a little tired and stuff," said Alexander, who was fifth on the team with 58 tackles in 2012. "That's something I was working hard on but I didn't work hard enough. So I've got to keep working on getting my wind back and just keep playing."
Alexander wasn't the only Beaver who struggled to maintain his frenetic pace. After holding the Utes to just 153 yards of total offense in the first half, OSU surrendered 385 in the second. That eventually allowed Utah to turn a 10-point halftime deficit into its first overtime game in more than a year.
"It was a little up and down," Alexander said. "We can't have that again. We've got to continue pushing through like we did in the first half."
The Beavers will get that opportunity Saturday when they face San Diego State at Qualcomm Stadium, which is about a two-hour drive south from Alexander's Palm Desert, Calif., home. His mother, Cindy, has called Alexander numerous times this week to update him on how many friends and family members plan to attend the game.
But he tries not to let the homecoming of sorts distract him from his primary aim: helping nab OSU's second straight road win.
"I'm happy to finally be back and finally be playing with my team again," Alexander said. "I'm grateful to finally be back and go full speed like nothing ever happened."
Said coach Mike Riley: "I think it's all confidence. When you've been injured and you come back and you play, you find out everything's OK. And you feel better about it the next time."
-- Connor Letourneau