Alejandro Villanueva, a former West Point football star who began as an offensive lineman and defensive end then converted to a receiver — and who then served three tours in Afghanistan — has just signed with the Philadelphia Eagles’ 90-man roster.
He still has to make it through to the 53-man roster, which is to be whittled later this summer.
Recruiting hopes are that the NFL team can turn him back into a defensive lineman, Breitbart reported.
The Eagles put out a release about Mr. Villaneuva, 25, who was just promoted to captain: “While serving with the 10th Mountain Division, Villanueva deployed to Afghanistan for 12 months as a Rifle Platoon Leader. During his deployment, he earned a Bronze Star Medal for Valor for moving forward under enemy fire to pull his wounded soldiers from their isolated position. When Villanueva returned from his first deployment to Afghanistan, he was assigned as a Rifle Company Executive Officer.”
He then returned to Afghanistan twice more, serving a total of 20 months at the overseas stop.
The Eagles picked him up after watching him play in April at the Super Regional Combine in Detroit, Breitbart reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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