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From Rames Barden to this guy... Rich Ellerson knows how to play with a big receiver, a 6-foot-10, 286-pound wide receiver. Would be a b!tch for a tiny 5-11 corner to cover.
He's almost as tall as Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard.
He's built like Giants defensive end Justin Tuck.
Athletes like Ali Villanueva rarely walk through the gates of West Point.
Villanueva, whose jersey is about two sizes too short, flashed a smile and lined up wide right. The junior feels like he's starting all over again a week into this trial run.
"It wasn't really my choice," Villanueva said. "It was coach Ellerson's ... I didn't really like it because I'm 300 pounds. Playing with little corners that weigh 170 pounds, it's going to be a challenge. He knows more about football than anyone I've met in my entire life. I'll just follow his lead."
This is Villanueva's fifth position since he arrived at West Point. Villanueva was recruited as a tight end out of SHAPE American High in Belgium. He was converted to a defensive end early in his Army career and switched to offensive tackle during his sophomore season.
Can someone as tall and heavy as Villanueva really catch on at a speed position?
"Why not?" said Army offensive coordinator Ian Shields. "It's a little bit of a journey and discovery. But what if he can? We can get a lot of guys in our system to go out and play tackle. But how cool would it be if there was a 6-10 wide receiver out there, who can be a green-zone target?
"And think about the blocking possibilities. He can really put the hurting on some DBs and linebackers. It could be fun."
He's built like Giants defensive end Justin Tuck.
Athletes like Ali Villanueva rarely walk through the gates of West Point.
Villanueva, whose jersey is about two sizes too short, flashed a smile and lined up wide right. The junior feels like he's starting all over again a week into this trial run.
"It wasn't really my choice," Villanueva said. "It was coach Ellerson's ... I didn't really like it because I'm 300 pounds. Playing with little corners that weigh 170 pounds, it's going to be a challenge. He knows more about football than anyone I've met in my entire life. I'll just follow his lead."
This is Villanueva's fifth position since he arrived at West Point. Villanueva was recruited as a tight end out of SHAPE American High in Belgium. He was converted to a defensive end early in his Army career and switched to offensive tackle during his sophomore season.
Can someone as tall and heavy as Villanueva really catch on at a speed position?
"Why not?" said Army offensive coordinator Ian Shields. "It's a little bit of a journey and discovery. But what if he can? We can get a lot of guys in our system to go out and play tackle. But how cool would it be if there was a 6-10 wide receiver out there, who can be a green-zone target?
"And think about the blocking possibilities. He can really put the hurting on some DBs and linebackers. It could be fun."
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