On the surface, Montreal Alouettes quarterback Davis Alexander may look like an overnight sensation.

At this time one year ago, he was still Montreal’s third-string quarterback, playing behind both Cody Fajardo and Caleb Evans in his third CFL season.

But when injuries to Montreal’s first and second stringers forced Alexander into action during the first half of last season, a player who’d only attempted 21 passes through his first two seasons looked ready for prime time.

Alexander led Montreal to wins in all four of his starts, impressing to the degree that Montreal traded Fajardo to Edmonton this past off-season and anointed the 26-year-old Portland State product their new No. 1 quarterback.

It was a perfect example of a young quarterback being able to make great strides and prepare for his opportunity despite not being on the field. Alexander spent his first couple of seasons in Montreal taking in what was going on around him, playing behind three veterans in Vernon Adams Jr., Trevor Harris and Fajardo.

“I saw the way that Vernon and Trevor and Cody worked,” said Alexander, now in his fourth season with the Alouettes. “I tried not to get in the way of their preparation, and really just tried to........

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