hawaiiansteeler
10-22-2015, 09:14 PM
Villanueva goes from Army Ranger to NFL offensive tackle
By JOHN PERROTTO (Associated Press)
AP - Sports
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Alejandro Villanueva says he is amazed by his teammates.
Funny thing is, his Pittsburgh Steelers teammates say the same thing about the offensive tackle expected to make his first start Sunday at Kansas City.
Villanueva is a former Army Ranger who won a Bronze Star while serving in Afghanistan.
''He's been ready for this ever since walking into this building,'' Steelers guard Cody Wallace said Thursday. ''In fact, he was ready long before he ever got here.''
Villanueva will take the place of left tackle Kelvin Beachum, who sustained a season-ending knee injury in last week's victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Villanueva says he is not overly nervous about moving into the lineup because of his teammates.
''Kelvin Beachum works even harder than me,'' Villanueva said. ''(Wide receiver) Antonio Brown is the hardest worker on the team. (Defensive end) Cam Heyward is a guy that makes sure that I'm up to (par at practice) with my technique and football skills.
''I'm just feeding off the energy of my teammates and coaches. That's what's making this team so special.''
Military service and the Bronze Star - awarded for heroic or meritorious service in a combat zone - aside, Villanueva's path to the NFL has been astonishing.
The 27-year-old finished his college career in 2009 at the West Point playing wide receiver. Last season, following his four-year commitment in the service, the 6-foot-9, 277-pound Villanueva went to training camp with the Philadelphia Eagles as a defensive lineman and was waived. He signed with the Steelers, who kept him on the practice squad all season while converting him into an offensive lineman.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin couldn't help but notice Villanueva during the playing of the national anthem last year before a preseason game against the Eagles.
''There was a guy standing over there about a head taller than everybody else saluting during the anthem and it kind of got my attention,'' Tomlin said. ''I wanted to know about this enormous human being over there saluting.''
Villanueva added 65 pounds over the past offseason and made the 53-man roster in training camp. He remains in the Army reserves and is taking classes at Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business in Pittsburgh while working on an MBA.
to read rest of article:
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/villanueva-goes-army-ranger-nfl-offensive-tackle-223039616--nfl.html
By JOHN PERROTTO (Associated Press)
AP - Sports
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Alejandro Villanueva says he is amazed by his teammates.
Funny thing is, his Pittsburgh Steelers teammates say the same thing about the offensive tackle expected to make his first start Sunday at Kansas City.
Villanueva is a former Army Ranger who won a Bronze Star while serving in Afghanistan.
''He's been ready for this ever since walking into this building,'' Steelers guard Cody Wallace said Thursday. ''In fact, he was ready long before he ever got here.''
Villanueva will take the place of left tackle Kelvin Beachum, who sustained a season-ending knee injury in last week's victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Villanueva says he is not overly nervous about moving into the lineup because of his teammates.
''Kelvin Beachum works even harder than me,'' Villanueva said. ''(Wide receiver) Antonio Brown is the hardest worker on the team. (Defensive end) Cam Heyward is a guy that makes sure that I'm up to (par at practice) with my technique and football skills.
''I'm just feeding off the energy of my teammates and coaches. That's what's making this team so special.''
Military service and the Bronze Star - awarded for heroic or meritorious service in a combat zone - aside, Villanueva's path to the NFL has been astonishing.
The 27-year-old finished his college career in 2009 at the West Point playing wide receiver. Last season, following his four-year commitment in the service, the 6-foot-9, 277-pound Villanueva went to training camp with the Philadelphia Eagles as a defensive lineman and was waived. He signed with the Steelers, who kept him on the practice squad all season while converting him into an offensive lineman.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin couldn't help but notice Villanueva during the playing of the national anthem last year before a preseason game against the Eagles.
''There was a guy standing over there about a head taller than everybody else saluting during the anthem and it kind of got my attention,'' Tomlin said. ''I wanted to know about this enormous human being over there saluting.''
Villanueva added 65 pounds over the past offseason and made the 53-man roster in training camp. He remains in the Army reserves and is taking classes at Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business in Pittsburgh while working on an MBA.
to read rest of article:
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/villanueva-goes-army-ranger-nfl-offensive-tackle-223039616--nfl.html