Craig Handel

CHANDEL@NEWS-PRESS.COM

After a little less than two hours, the Minnesota Vikings ended Alexander’s wait. Mackensie Alexander constantly looked at his cellphone, bounced between the living room and kitchen, chatted with friends and family, trying to do anything to make the time pass before he was picked in the NFL Draft.

With the 54th pick in the second round, the Vikings chose the former Clemson and Immokalee High star.

“It was amazing, something I wanted my whole life,” Alexander said. “There’s no better feeling than what I’m feeling right now.”

While Alexander had good vibes, it didn’t take long for the chip to come back squarely on his shoulder.

“Six cornerbacks were chosen ahead of me,” he said. “I’m gonna make ‘em pay, don’t worry about that.”

Alexander sought to become this area’s seventh player to be chose in Round 1. The first six were Sammy Watkins (2014), Phillip Buchanon (2002), Edgerrin James and Jevon Kearse (1999), Deion Sanders (1989) and Joe Renfroe (1945).

Although many projected him going in the first round, ESPN draft experts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay did not. Kiper pointed out that Alexander having zero interceptions was an issue.

"Interesting prospect," Kiper said after the selection. "You talk about a third-year sophomore, didn't have the interceptions that you want. The ball skills were questionable. He didn't get a lot of opportunities.

"When he went up against (Notre Dame wide receiver) Will Fuller it was in a rainstorm. Fuller had very little chance to catch the majority of passes that were thrown his way. The Florida State, North Carolina games, you saw a little bit of a mix of good and bad, some issues in coverage, didn't always wrap up.

"I think he has the ceiling to be a pretty good starter in the NFL. Liked him, didn't love him because you wanted to see more big plays. You can't excuse it away just not having a lot of opportunities. He had chances and he didn't come away with the interception. That doesn't happen very often for a high pick."

Sports Illustrated's Doug Farrar, who watched tape with Alexander, thought he should've went a round earlier.

"How Alexander dropped to the end of the second round is a mystery, except to say that a lot of teams have biases against (5-foot-10) cornerbacks when they shouldn't," he wrote. "Alexander is the best man coverage cornerback in this class, and he'll be a perfect fit in Mike Zimmer's aggressive defense. In the slot or outside."

NFL draft: Second and third round pick-by-pick analysis

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer has long had a reputation for developing defensive backs, and the Vikings could use some depth there with 37-year-old Terence Newman set to be the oldest defensive player in the NFL next season and Trae Waynes coming off of a rookie season in which he spent most of his time on special teams.

Alexander is the fourth Immokalee High player drafted, following Brian Rolle in 2011, James in 1999 and Albert Bentley in 1984.

A red-shirt sophomore, Alexander had been projected to go as high No. 9 in mock drafts months ago. However, in the weeks before the draft, he started to slide.

Then the draft began. Day 1 passed.

Besides other corners going before him, so did Clemson teammates.

So did receivers he shut down, like Notre Dame’s Will Fuller, who went in the first round, and Oklahoma’s Sterling Shepard, who went in the second round.

“I was puzzled too, we all were,” said Alexander, who watched from The Knickerbocker Estate in Naples. “There’s some things you just don’t are going to happen in the draft. I just tried to stay patient.”

One time the phone rang. A false alarm.

Finally, at 8:59 p.m., the call came.

“Minnesota,” agent Trey Robinson told those gathered in the room.

“Thank you coach, yes sir, yes sir, I’m ready,” Alexander said to Viking coach Mike Zimmer while slapping hands with anyone near him. “I’m so excited right now, I’m ready, I’ll be working. You’re going to get a great player.”

He then brought his family together where they waited for a commercial or two, then cheered when his name was called.

When Minnesota media asked him about where he was picked, he said, “Yes, I thought I’d be picked higher. But I’m a Viking now.

When asked about his pro day and a question about having no interceptions, he said, “I caught the ball well and have great ball skills.”

Alexander said he’d be cool with playing special teams but when someone asked if he’d be cool if he didn’t play much, he paused, then said, “If I had to. … I wouldn’t be real cool with it. I was hired to do a job and I plan on doing it.”

The Vikings drafted Laquon Treadwell of Mississippi in the first round and Alexander said he’s looking forward to battling him.

“That’ll be fun,” he said. “I’ll call him. He’s an extremely gifted guy.”

Training camp will start for Alexander and the Vikings Thursday.

“I’m just so excited,” he said.

"I'm extremely excited about that. I'm really eager to learn from him," Alexander said of Zimmer. "I'm just eager to be around him and willing to learn. I'm very coachable and I'm just excited right now."

Alexander had 12 pass breakups and no interceptions in his two seasons at Clemson as opponents avoided throwing to his side of the field. He had eight tackles for loss last season to help the Tigers reach the national championship game.

"I was asked to follow the best receivers every week and eliminate them from the game plan and just win those matchups," Alexander said. "Whatever the Vikings want me to do, I'm ready for it."

He was a third-team All-American last season and could eventually succeed veteran Captain Munnerlyn as the Vikings' nickel cornerback. Alexander compared himself to Darrelle Revis and Jason Verrett, two of the top cornerbacks in the NFL.

"Just having a sick work ethic. My parents instilled that in me and that's where my confidence comes from," Alexander said. "My talent has molded me to be that guy."