Penn senior football players Vince Alexander and Rob Milanese went undrafted in the April 26-27 NFL Draft but did not go unnoticed for long. Alexander signed with the New York Jets while Milanese will sign a contract with New England before reporting to the Patriots' May 2 mini-camp.
Alexander had garnered interest from the Jets before the draft and met with their coaches during the scouting process. Alexander tied for the Ivy League-lead with five interceptions in 2002 and was a unanimous first team All-Ivy selection and a third team Associated Press All-American. Before the draft Philadelphia, Cincinnati and the New York Giants had expressed interest, but Alexander says he is with his first choice.
"On Sunday, the Jets were the first team to call and that's what I was hoping for," Alexander said. "I thought that was my best opportunity."
Alexander, who starred at safety for Penn, will make the change to linebacker and special teams in the pros.
The newest Jet signed a three-year contract with a $2,000 signing bonus. He will report to Hempstead, N.Y., today for mini-camp, but will return to campus Monday for a final exam.
Milanese graduated from Penn in December after starring on the Ivy League champion Quakers in the fall. He left as the school's all-time leader in both receiving yards and receptions. The Patriots will have their choice of Ivy League wide receivers, as they also signed Brown's Chas Gessner to a free agent contract after the draft.
Three Harvard players -- Carl Morris, Jamil Soriano and Jack Fadule -- have inked contracts. Morris, two-time Ivy League Player of the Year, signed with Indianapolis. Fadule and Soriano, both All-Ivy offensive lineman, signed with Pittsburgh and Green Bay, respectively.
