MINNEAPOLIS — Brandon Fusco was one employee who didn’t mind working overtime on a Sunday.

The Seneca Valley High School and Slippery Rock University graduate made his first NFL start at right guard in the Minnesota Vikings’ 26-23 overtime win over Jacksonville last Sunday.

“They introduced the starting offense and hearing my name over the loudspeakers as I was coming through the tunnel ... That was a special moment for me,” Fusco said. “It’s something I’ll never forget.”

At 6-foot-4, 306 pounds, Fusco lined up against Jacksonville defensive tackle Tyson Alualu, a former first-round draft pick, all day.

Fusco threw key blocks on Adrian Peterson’s two touchdown runs in that game.

“It was amazing how hard that guy worked to come back from his knee injury,” Fusco said. “He loves to play football and I was extremely motivated to block for him.

“With his cuts and speed, he makes all of us look good.”

Fusco, in his second year with the Vikings after being selected in the sixth round last year, became only the fifth Slippery Rock University player ever selected in the NFL draft.

Fusco became the first SRU graduate to ever be named a regular starter in the NFL. Running back Ricky Porter started a game for the Buffalo Bills in the early 1980’s.

He learned he was a starter after the Vikings’ third preseason game, when head coach Leslie Frazier announced the lineup. Fusco did not play in the team’s final preseason contest.

Fusco played in the first three offensive series in the preseason against San Francisco and Buffalo — going up against six-year veteran Ray McDonald from the University of Florida and Marcell Dareus, the third-overall draft pick in 2011 from Alabama.

He played the first half and part of the third quarter against San Diego.

“I took a sigh of relief when I heard I was officially a starter,” Fusco admitted. “I mean, I figured I was going to be. I was treated like a starter from day one in camp this year and the job was mine to lose ... But you never know.

“Going up against all of this high-level talent, it is hard to believe sometimes. It’s reality, though, and you can’t play scared. I earned my position here and I’m confident in my game.”

Fusco saw action in only three games last year. He either stood on the sidelines or did not suit up for the other 13.

“With the lockout last year, missing OTA’s and any off-season program, the game seemed like it was going 100 miles per hour to me,” Fusco admitted. “I couldn’t catch up to the plays or the mental part of the game.

“Having that year to get acclimated definitely helped my progress at this level. Our schemes, opposing blitzes, it all comes to me now. The game has slowed up for me.”

He said he already feels a closeness between the offensive line, quarterbacks and running backs.

“We watch films together and communicate all the time,” Fusco said. “(Quarterback) Christian (Ponder) takes the O-line out to dinner. It’s nice.”

Fusco still talks with SRU coach George Mihalik once a week. He has a big decision to make come Week 8, when the Vikings play Tampa Bay in the NFL’s Thursday night nationally televised game.

“When we introduce ourselves on TV before the game, I have to figure out how I’m going to say Slippery Rock,” Fusco said. “I think I’m going to go with, Slippery Rock, The Rock.

“That’s one thing I don’t want to mess up. Coach Mihalik and that place mean way too much to me.”

The Vikings play at Indianapolis at 1 p.m. this Sunday.