This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
In his living room surrounded by family, Maurice Alexander learned he wasn't going to have to go far to start his NFL career.
The former Utah State safety became the first Aggie selected in the 2014 NFL Draft, picked by the St. Louis Rams in the fourth round at No. 110 overall. In a conference call with media shortly after he was drafted, the St. Louis native was ecstatic to be playing close to home.
"I was patiently waiting, me and my mom," he said. "I'm speechless, man. It was the greatest phone call I've ever gotten in my life."
Alexander only started playing safety his senior year after starting as an outside linebacker at Utah State. He earned All-Mountain West honorable mention with 80 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 9 tackles for a loss. At the NFL Combine, he raised his stock with a 4.5-second 40-yard dash at 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds.
Alexander went to Eureka H.S., in Missouri, and attended Arizona Western junior college before he went to Logan.
There was a significant bump in Alexander's career: He spent a year out of the football program after getting in a fight with teammate Joey DeMartino. He spent a year back home in St. Louis trying to get back in Utah State's good graces.
On Saturday, he revealed that he spent part of that year working as a janitor at the Rams' Edward Jones Dome. Now, he'll get a chance to play in that stadium where he once spent hours sweeping up among the seats.
"Every time I went to work, I always sat on the end of the field, and I looked at it like, 'This could be my dream spot,'" he said. "Look where I'm at now."
Alexander said he talked scheme with defensive coordinator Gregg Williams about where he might fit in the Rams' scheme, and he's excited by the possibilities.
"He's a great coach," he said. "Obviously you guys know, he's been in the league a very long time and I can't wait to be a player for him."
Twitter: @kylegoon