Back in December, when GoBlackKnights.com connected with ESPN NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay regarding Ali Villanueva's NFL status, he noted that Ali's unique size and athletic ability just can't simply be past over.

According to McShay, when asked about the steps NFL teams are taking when it comes to assessing Villanueva's professional prospects. "Teams are sending extra scouts into Army on cross-checking trips specifically to see more of Villanueva because he is such a unique prospect," shares McShay.

The real question for NFL scouts and general managers is where would the 6-foot-10, 282 pounds athlete project on an NFL roster. The general consensus is that they like how athletic he is, particularly at his size, but where does he play in the NFL? When he played the offensive line, it was in the triple option offense. He's not an NFL wide receiver, but could he be a tight-end? If not, then where?

Well, for the Cincinnati Bengals, their initial thought was that the Army football captain could project as a tight-end for the Ohio football club. But clearly for Villanueva and the Bengals, getting a roster spot would be a tough task. If anyone has ever watched a version of NFL Hard Knocks, they know that even for that All-American athlete, making a NFL squad is an assumed right, but a luxury. Very often, a prospects' ability to make a team's roster can be attributed to being in the right place at the right time, along with having the high caliber skills.

Villanueva was told by his agent on Tuesday that the Bengals were interested, he got everything ready on Wednesday and arrived in Cincy on Thursday.

Upon his return from his mini-camp tryout in Cincinnati, Ohio with the team that Paul Brown founded, GoBlackKnights.com had a chance to connect with Villanueva and peak inside his week with the Bengals.

CINCINNATI BENGALS COME CALLING

First and foremost, why Cincinnati versus other squads? "My agent told me that the Bengals were interested in me coming to their mini-camp and I don't know if it's what he considered to be the best team for me," shares the 6-foot-10 player, who really thought his football days were over. "Actually, I thought I hung up the cleats for the last time after the East-West Shrine game {laughing}."

Unlike former Black Knights' safety Caleb Campbell, who is currently competing for a spot on the Detroit Lions' roster and who has been on a two year mission to make it in the NFL, Villanueva has not placed professional football on the top of his priority list. As a matter for fact, it might have been the policies surrounding Campbell's NFL status or lack of, that might have caused some teams to take a more casual approach and look at Villanueva as a true NFL prospect.

"I was completely out of shape (football) and I have not been preparing for this," shares a very candid Ali. "It was a very cool experience and I thought I was very competitive out there … doing what the coaches ask me to do. I was really surprise how I was competing with those guys that were first, second and third round picks.

The problem was that they all looked at Caleb's (Campbell) situation and they say, well if Caleb can't play, then this guy can't play either. They all know the policy and teams know that I am going to serve in the Army. Some may think two years is nothing, but those two years is everything. Those two years in between, there is no way that a team is going to say we are going to bring you back because by that time, the young guys have developed, so it's tough. But it's not one of those things I'm killing myself about and I'm very happy with the decision that I have made, along with the position that I am in (West Point graduate).

PRACTICE

For the future Army officer, the Bengals' practice wasn't too much different then what he experienced as a Black Knight. With five practices under his belt, the routine consisted of each practices being two hours long, where you had your warm up stretch, walk through, individuals, team run, then your pass one-on-one, but as Ali indicated, the pace and intensity were at a higher level.

As Villanueva wore the burnt orange and black of the Bengals, he felt that under the shadows of Paul Brown Stadium his performance was more than acceptable.

"I felt comfortable catching balls in one on one," says Ali, who was also trying to compete while dusting off some of the inactive rust. "Now I'm not a coach, but I felt that I was getting my job done on the field, making holes, catching balls.

When I walked in initially, I wasn't sure that I belonged here, because these guys have been training for football, that's all they have been doing. I have been doing foot marches and running to lose weight so I can get ready for the Army. So when I showed up, I wasn't very confident, but once the first practice went by … I started to get in on the defensive ends, started catching balls, started getting separation from the defensive backs and it all ended up going well for me, but there was and is a lot of room for improvement for me.

Every time I had a good play, they were complimentary of my play. By the third practice they kind of figured that I wasn't going to be around this summer or even next year for that … and their attitude changed. They appreciated my commitment to serve my country and I appreciate that, but at that point that is not what I was looking for; I wanted to know what I am doing right and wrong as a player."

LOOKING BACK ON IT

"It was a great experience to play with the Bengals for a couple of days and it just tells me more about myself," says Villanueva, who was given #86 to wear versus his #82 that Army fans had become accustomed to seeing him in. "I have played in so many systems and coaches … when a 6'10" guy like me gets in a zone and plays tight-end, you really find how easy it is for me to play football.

The Bengals wanted me to stay in contact with them, but many of coaches were surprised at my status."

GOING FORWARD

While many of those same rookies and free agents that Villanueva shared the field and locker room with will be fighting to make the Bengals' roster, the 2010 West Point graduate will be working harder and probably enduring much more than those rookies can imagine, as he attempts to make a different kind of roster/team. That is wearing the covenant fifty cent patch of United States Army Ranger … the elite of the elite. "Next year I will be at Ranger school and the following year I will be in Afghanistan," Ali states. "They (Bengals' coaches) were all very surprised at that, in the sense that they didn't know my commitment … a lot of the coaches were like, what you are doing here then.

At the same time, I'm not worried about that …. I know what my responsibilities are and it's not like I have put all my eggs in the NFL basket."

THE FUTURE

"I'm looking forward to heading off to Ranger school and everyone tells me how hard it is, but I look at it as a challenge, especially being able to get that hard earned Ranger tab," shares a very proud Villanueva.


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