Former Pitt defensive end Deslin Alexandre named Jason Witten Man of the Year

After a busy collegiate career on and off the field, former Pitt defensive end Deslin Alexandre was named the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year at a ceremony Thursday night in Frisco, Texas.

The honor is annually presented by former Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten to the FBS player “who best demonstrates an outstanding record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship.”

Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford and Oregon offensive lineman Alex Forsyth were the other finalists.

“I am honored to present the sixth annual Collegiate Man of the Year to Deslin Alexandre,” Witten said. “He is a great leader and a role model for young athletes. He came to the U.S. from Haiti at a young age and overcame a lot of challenges to become a great player and leader, both on campus and in the community. He is a perfect example of what a college student-athlete can be.”

Alexandre was a two-time team captain and three-year starter at Pitt. He also was a three-time member of the All-ACC Academic football team. He earned his bachelor’s degree in communication and is pursuing an MBA in Pitt’s Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business.

He worked just as tirelessly in the community, devoting time to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, literacy promotion and Divine Mercy Parish’s historic “Red Door” program that provides meals and clothing for the homeless.

Perhaps his most impressive contribution was raising $50,000 through his “5th Down Campaign,” whose goal was to build awareness and mobilize resources for the impoverished children of Haiti, his native nation.

“I don’t think there are enough superlatives to describe Deslin and his achievements while at the University of Pittsburgh,” Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said in a statement. “His impact as a student, athlete and community leader is so inspiring. He represents the absolute best of what it means to be a Pitt Panther. Deslin has given Pitt so many reasons to be proud and I know he will make the Witten family proud as the recipient of this outstanding award.”

Previously, Alexandre was honored as the male collegiate recipient of the Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup and as a member of the Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team.

A $10,000 contribution will be made in Alexandre’s name to Pitt’s athletic scholarship fund from Jason Witten’s SCORE Foundation, the official charity of Jason and his wife Michelle.