Times Herald-Record
March 31, 2009
WEST POINT ? 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.
First-year Army coach Rich Ellerson and his staff believe they might have an edge no other Football Bowl Subdivision team can counter ? a 6-foot-10, 286-pound wide receiver.
Villanueva, who started 12 games at left tackle last season, has traded in his No. 76 jersey for a No. 3.
"Hey, you got the wrong jersey on," Army athletic director Kevin Anderson joked to Villanueva at Monday's spring practice. "A big guy like you, you need double digits."
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.
Former Army coach Stan Brock once said Villanueva had the potential to be an all-American lineman. The new coaching staff originally moved Villanueva to right guard this spring.
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."
One problem. Villanueva has never played wide receiver. Before last week, he'd never run a fade route or a corner pattern in his life.
Enter Andy Guyader, Army's wide receivers coach. Villanueva said Guyader is "his caddie," through the learning process.
"He's in uncharted territory for how big and long somebody trying to play the position is," Guyader said. "Not all the technique works for him that works for 99 percent of the other people I've coached."
Villanueva caught two touchdown passes in Army's first spring scrimmage Saturday. After watching tape, Villanueva wasn't happy.
"I missed a lot of blocking assignments," said Villanueva, who runs a 4.8, 40-yard dash. "Even when I got the ball, I was making mistakes."
But Villanueva's height and size should be an advantage, right?
"I still don't know how to use those advantages," said Villanueva, who was the tallest offensive lineman in the FBS (formerly called Division I-A) last season. "I've got to get coached up and know how to use my weapons. Otherwise, it's going to be embarrassing to be the tallest receiver and not be able to do a good job."
Army coaches are optimistic this experiment can work.
"I'm convinced he can be," Guyader said. "He can block somebody in space much better than I thought he could. He doesn't move around like a guy who weighs 286 pounds. He catches the ball well with his hands. That's really not an issue."
Although he wouldn't turn down a move back to the line, Villanueva desires a permanent position.
"This is my final shot now, I hope this is for good, making me a wide receiver," Villanueva said.
If not, maybe Army men's basketball coach Jim Crews is looking for a center.
