Golden NFL chance for Penn star Alexander

Vince Alexander has what most former Ivy League football players dream of -- a chance.

A chance to play in the NFL.

"Believe it or not, he's got a legitimate chance to make this team," New York Jets special teams coach Mike Westhoff said of the undrafted free agent who is graduating from the College Monday.

Alexander, who starred at safety at Penn but will move to linebacker in the pros, signed a three-year contract with the Jets on April 27.

That was just the first step from the Ivies to the AFC East.

"It's a large adjustment," Alexander said. "Guys are obviously bigger, quicker and stronger. It's a big jump."

However, it's not as big a jump as some might perceive.

"He played at a very high level at a program that's pretty doggone good," Westhoff said. "Although, I am a little prejudiced."

The reason for Westhoff's pro-Quakers bias provided the Jets the inside track on scouting Alexander. The veteran coach's son is senior John Westhoff, Penn's long-snapper for four seasons.

"Every time I saw [Alexander] play, he caught my eye," Westhoff said. "And I was just there as a fan to watch my son play. As I got to know him, he reminded me of Larry Izzo."

Westhoff signed Izzo as an undrafted free agent when he was special teams coach for the Miami Dolphins. The eight-year veteran is a two-time Pro-Bowler.

However, with only one minicamp, held in Long Island two weeks ago, behind Alexander in his pro career, all comparisons are somewhat shaky.

"We're just in shorts and helmets," Westhoff said. "So we're just speculating."

Alexander agreed there is a long way to go to making the Jets roster -- a difficult task in and of itself for an undrafted rookie.

"The evaluation process has just begun," Alexander said. "But I like my chances if I can go out there and play like I'm capable of."

There is some competition at the reserve linebacker spot, including undrafted free agent Mark Brown from Auburn and Kenyatta Wright, whom the Jets signed from the Buffalo Bills.

Due to the NFL's salary cap, there are some built-in advantages to being a rookie. A veteran's minimum salary goes up with every year of experience. Therefore, a rookie is the cheapest option in a league where the cap mandates salary-conscious choices.

"The system would like the sixth or seventh linebacker to be a rookie," Westhoff said. "Because he's at the minimum... it's more 'cap-friendly.'"

"If he's close [to his competitors] he's got the advantage," he added.

Alexander will also need to be a factor in Westhoff's area of expertise -- special teams -- to keep his NFL dreams alive.

"He's got to be a good special teams guy," Westhoff said. "We've got good special teams here... if he can fit in there, he's a got a chance to make the football team. Sometimes an undersized guy, if he's good at special teams, can have a role on the football team."

The next step for Alexander begins almost as soon as the cap and gown are removed. He will return to the Jets the day after graduation to begin working out with the team. More structured practices will begin after Memorial Day weekend for three weeks. Training camp and the real fight for the limited roster spots begins July 21.

Alexander is ready.

"I'm really excited," he said. "I'm getting the opportunity to do what a lot of people want to do, to do what I love to do. I have the opportunity to play with guys I watched on TV. To have the chance to play on TV and have people watch me is really exciting."

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