Alejandro Villanueva (American football)

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Alejandro Villanueva
refer to caption
Villanueva with the Steelers in the 2015 postseason.
No. 78 Pittsburgh Steelers
Position: Offensive Tackle
Personal information
Date of birth: (1988-09-22) September 22, 1988 (age 36)
Place of birth: Meridian, Mississippi
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Weight: Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
Career information
High school: SHAPE High School
College: Army
Undrafted: 2010
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status: Active
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2015
Games played: 16
Games started: 10
Tackles: 1
Player stats at NFL.com
Alejandro Villanueva
Allegiance  United States
Service/branch Emblem of the United States Department of the Army.svg United States Army
Years of service 2010 – present
Rank US military captain's rank.gif Captain
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Awards <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>

Alejandro "Ali" Villanueva (born September 22, 1988) is an American football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League and a captain in the United States Army, with whom he served as an Army Ranger, decorated with a bronze star. He played college football for the Army Black Knights, being recruited at one position, and playing three others during the course of his career. After serving three tours of duty in Afghanistan, he signed a contract with the Eagles on May 5, 2014, after working out in a regional showcase. He is 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 m) tall, and signed with the Eagles as a defensive end; he did not make the final cut. Shortly after, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed him to their practice squad as an offensive lineman.

Early life

Villanueva was born on Naval Air Station Meridian in Meridian, Mississippi to Spanish natives; Ignacio Villanueva, a Spanish Naval officer who worked for NATO, and Matilda Martin.[1] Both his mother and father were over 6 feet (1.8 m) tall. Of the family's four children, Alejandro, Paloma, Ignacio and Carmen; Alejandro was the eldest. During his childhood, he lived in Rhode Island, Spain, and Belgium; in Spain, he learned to play rugby, which, for a time, he preferred to football, which he began to play in Belgium.[1] It was while he was attending SHAPE High School in Casteau, Belgium when he was recruited to play football.[2] Villanueva's childhood friend whom he'd met at SHAPE HS was recruited to play football for the Army Black Knights; and his friend told the Army coaches about Villanueva.[2] They kept in touch and Villanueva told him that he was considering attending West Point.[2] The following year Villanueva enrolled in West Point.[2]

College career

Villanueva his senior year with Army

Villanueva played college football for the Army Black Knights at several positions, including; left tackle, defensive lineman, and wide receiver.[3] Though originally recruited as a tight end, he played defensive end during his freshman season, mostly on special teams. In his sophomore season offensive line coach, John Tice, lobbied to have Villanueva converted to an offensive tackle which succeeded near the end of his sophomore year. By his junior season, he started every game at left tackle. Voted a team captain before his senior year, he reluctantly converted once more to become a 290 pounds (130 kg) wide receiver; a feature story in the Army football program read, "Already touted as the tallest football player in the country, Villanueva completed the transformation from being an offensive lineman for the past two years, to running routes on the field with the starting offense last Saturday night."[1] His height, while reported by Army Football in 2009 to be 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m),[1] was given by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2014 as 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 m).[4]

Professional career

Tryouts

After going undrafted in the 2010 draft, Villanueva tried out with the Cincinnati Bengals as a tight end but did not make the team and went back into military service.[3] Two years later, he made a second attempt to play in the NFL again as a tight end. He was given a tryout and practiced with the Chicago Bears, but was not signed.

Philadelphia Eagles

On May 5, 2014, he was signed to the Philadelphia Eagles for an undisclosed contract to play as a defensive end.[5] His signing marked the second time the Eagles had signed a military veteran in recent years, having previously had Chad Hall, a wide receiver from the Air Force, as a member of the team.[6] Villanueva has said that if he does not make an NFL roster, he plans to serve a fourth tour of duty in Afghanistan.[7] He commented, "I see this as a win-win situation. Obviously, I’m trying to get to a team and contribute. But if I can’t, then I can't wait to get back to the Army and serve in the same manner that I have."[7] During training camp, Villanueva gained 40 pounds (18 kg), noting that he is eating a consistent diet, which juxtaposed his military career insofar as while in the military, he often did not have time or inclination to eat, whereas with the Eagles, he is getting "plenty to eat".[8][9] It was announced on Saturday, August 23 that he was one of fourteen players cut from the team.[10]

Pittsburgh Steelers

During a pre-season game against the Steelers, Villanueva was spotted by Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. After being impressed by Villanueva's size, Tomlin signed him on January 5, 2014, to a reserve and futures contract. Once joining his new team, he was immediately changed from a defensive end to a left tackle, as it was thought to better suit him. As a defensive end for the Eagles, Villanueva weighed 250 lbs. Within a year of becoming an offensive tackle, he rose up to 340 lbs. [11]

Throughout the 2014 season, Villanueva was kept on the practice squad to learn the position, put on more weight, and develop his abilities. He made his debut the following year during the 2015 season opener against the New England Patriots, playing 5 snaps as an extra tackle on goal-line plays.[12]

On October 18, 2015, Villanueva received his first opportunity at left tackle against the Arizona Cardinals after starting left tackle Kelvin Beachum left the game with a torn ACL.

The following week, Villanueva received his first career start at offensive tackle since his sophomore year at Army in 2008 and was tasked with blocking Kansas City Chiefs Pro-Bowl defensive end, Tamba Hali. He allowed a stripped sack in the fourth quarter, allowing the Chiefs to defeat the Steelers.

Military career

After graduating from the United States Military Academy Villanueva began his military career when he was commissioned into the United States Army on May 22, 2010 as a second lieutenant in the Infantry.[4] Directly after being commissioned he attended various military schools, including the Infantry, Airborne and Ranger Schools; all located on Fort Benning, Georgia. After completing the three courses he was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York. It was with the 10th Mountain Division he deployed for the first time; for 12 months to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan as a rifle platoon leader.[4] As a result of his actions during this deployment he was awarded a Bronze Star Medal with "V" device for rescuing wounded soldiers while under enemy fire.[4] When he returned from his deployment he was reassigned as a company executive officer.[4]

Villanueva volunteered for the 75th Ranger Regiment's Ranger Orientation Program in 2013.[4] He was assigned to the 1st Ranger Battalion. His roles within the Battalion have included plans officer, platoon leader and company executive officer.[4]

He has deployed two more times to Afghanistan for a total of eight months between both deployments.[4]

Commendations

Personal life

As a son of two Spanish citizens, Alejandro is still tied to his Spanish origins. He often visits El Puerto de Santa María (Cádiz, Spain) where his parents live, and also Motril (Granada, Spain), his mother's hometown. According to a local newspaper, he claimed that "I much prefer Motril to New York".

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2014/08/23/eagles-cut-alejandro-villanueva/
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

http://m.ideal.es/granada/deportes/mas-deportes/201510/20/motrileno-alejandro-villanueva-soldado-20151020113115.html

External links

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