Matt L. Stephens

The Coloradoan

Donnell Alexander has found a new home.

The former CSU running back who averaged 5.5 yards per carry during his two seasons with the Rams announced Friday that he'll finish his college career at Akron.

"It came down to the coaches because everybody spoke so highly of the staff out there," Alexander told The Coloradoan. "I wasn't just looking to move to the biggest school and find myself in a situation where I may or may not play, because I had interest from schools in the SEC, Big 12."

He's the third player from Colorado State University to join the Zips since Jim McElwain was hired in late 2011, following the footsteps of defensive end C.J. James and dismissed lineman Nordly Capi. Todd Stroud, a CSU assistant from 2010-11, is the defensive line coach at Akron.

Alexander was expected to be the Rams' starting running back in 2014 following Kapri Bibbs' decision to enter the NFL draft, but after one spring practice left the team due to relationships with the coaching staff. His bond with his CSU teammates, however, has remained unbroken, which is what's made his decision so difficult.

"The hardest part has been leaving them, because I love those guys like brothers. Nothing is going to change that, I still am going to have love for you all," Alexander said. "The support I've gotten from my teammates just shows me why we were friends, why it was so hard. You'd think I wouldn't get the biggest support from those guys given the circumstances, but they have. They've been there for me.

He carried the ball 188 times for 1,015 yards and six touchdowns at CSU, leading the Rams in rushing as a redshirt freshman in 2012. Last season, he averaged six yards per carry as the team's No. 2 back and scored a game-tying two-point conversion in CSU's New Mexico Bowl victory over Washington State on the Statue of Liberty play.

Stay tuned to Coloradoan.com for more updates on this story.

Follow reporter Matt L. Stephens at twitter.com/mattstephens and facebook.com/stephensreporting.