Now the starting left tackle for the Steelers. A warrior's warrior. A hell of a lot more soldier than I EVER was.
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| Villanueva as a senior playing for Army |
No. 78
Pittsburgh Steelers
Position:
Offensive Tackle
Personal information
Date of birth:
September 22, 1988
(age 27)
Place of birth:
Meridian, Mississippi
Height:
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Weight:
320 lb (145 kg)
Career information
College:
Army
Undrafted:
2010
Career history
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:
Active
Career NFL statistics as of Week 1, 2015
Games played:
1
Games started:
0
Stats at
NFL.com
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 serves as an
Army Ranger. 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 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 was a defensive end during his freshman season, although he mostly
played 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
Villanueva practiced 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 tried to enter the NFL again as a tight end, but this time he practiced with the
Chicago Bears. The Philadelphia Eagles signed Villanueva to an undisclosed contract to play as a
defensive end on May 5, 2014.
[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] Shortly after, he was added to the
Pittsburgh Steelers' practice squad as an offensive lineman.
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
United States Army Infantry School,
United States Army Airborne School and
Ranger School; 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
rifle company executive officer.
[4]
Villanueva volunteered for the
75th Ranger Regiment's
Ranger Orientation Program in 2013.
[4] He is assigned to the
1st Ranger Battalion at
Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia. His roles within the Battalion have included
plans officer, a Ranger
rifle platoon leader and Ranger company executive officer.
[4]
He has deployed two more times to Afghanistan for a total of eight months between both deployments.
[4]
Commendations
United States of America
United States Army
Captain
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