After 2-year wait, West Point grad at NFL camp - Military News | News From Afghanistan, Iraq And Around The World - Military Times

After 2-year wait, West Point grad at NFL camp

After two years, linebacker Caleb Campbell finally gets to show the Lions what he is made of when players kick off training camp practice Saturday in Allen Park.

Campbell has been in limbo since the Lions drafted him in 2008 as a safety out of Army. Because of a military policy, Campbell had to give up his chance to play in the NFL until the Lions were able to sign him as a free agent in April following the completion of his two-year active duty service.

Campbell, 6-feet-2 and 237 pounds, now gets to show the Lions how hard he can hit when he puts on the pads and tries to make an impact on the linebacker corps and special teams.

“He does a really nice job in coverage,” coach Jim Schwartz said during last month’s minicamp. “He understands all the concepts. It’s hard to say how he’s doing yet because linebackers, you need to evaluate them coming downhill with pads on taking on guards and taking on fullbacks and tackling running backs. I think he’s doing well, but we really still won’t 100 percent know until those pads go on and you can really see him.”

Five-time Pro Bowl linebacker Julian Peterson said he has seen Campbell make strides in learning his new position.

“The biggest thing for him is just knowing exactly where to fit when you’re inside the box,” Peterson said. “He’s doing a good job of asking questions, seeing where he has to go. But at times you see him out there thinking a little bit.

“But that will come over time, once he keeps on getting repetition on certain plays and stuff. Then he won’t have to think out there and he can just let it out and play his ball, because he’s a very fast and physical guy and we can use his talent on the field.”