Former Bearcat Alex Chisum Signs with Detroit Lions

In a weird twist of fate, on the very day we at Down the Drive took a deep dive into the Cincinnati’s receiving corps, a former Bearcat pass-catcher signed a professional contract. Alex Chisum, who amassed 1,159 yards and five touchdowns during his collegiate career, signed as an undrafted rookie with the Detroit Lions.

Chisum joins a team that lost arguably the best wide receiver of the last decade in Calvin Johnson, who retired in March. Golden Tate, Anquan Boldin and Marvin Jones are now the headliners on the roster for Detroit. Chisum was signed after former Louisville Cardinal Damian Copeland was waived.

In 2015, Chisum played in 13 games and set career-highs in receptions (38) and receiving yards (475). He caught a season-best seven passes for 60 yards in UC’s 34-26 loss to Temple and tallied 63 yards on six catches against USF, another game that did not go particularly well.

According to our friends over at Pride of Detroit, it is unlikely that Chisum will end up making the final roster despite his height (6’3”). All other receivers on the roster are 6’2” or shorter, with four players below six feet. Even so, its good to see he is at least getting a shot.