Philadelphia Eagles Sign U.S. Army Ranger for the Defensive Line

Yahoo News has some good news this week:

Alejandro Villanueva spent the past four years defending his country in the U.S. Army. Villanueva will now spend this offseason trying to make the Philadelphia Eagles’ 53-man roster.

Philadelphia announced the signing of Villanueva, a U.S. Army Ranger, on Monday. Villanueva served three tours in Afghanistan and was promoted to captain earlier this month.

The Eagles scouted Villanueva at the recent super regional combine in Detroit, a supplement to the NFL’s national scouting combine. Players who impressed at an NFL regional combine were invited to attend the NFL super regional combine to display their talents in front of NFL team scouts and player personnel directors.

Villanueva (6-foot-9, 277 pounds) last played football in 2009 for Army as a wide receiver after converting to that position before his senior season. The former offensive captain led the team with 34 receptions for 522 yards and five touchdowns. The Eagles signed him to play on their defensive line.

Villanueva is a graduate of West Point.  In Afghanistan, he earned a Bronze Star for Valor for moving forward under enemy fire to pull wounded soldiers from their isolated position.

What a hero!  We wish him all the best.

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