EMQB Interview: Caleb Campbell

Photo courtesy U.S. Military Academy

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

When Army safety Caleb Campbell was drafted by the Detroit Lions with the 218th pick in the seventh-round of the 2008 NFL Draft, he had played his way out of deployment to Kuwait or Iraq and into the National Football League. If he makes the team, that is.

“If football wasn’t going to happen, I branched as an air defense artilleryman, and that’s what I would go into as an officer. I would be a platoon leader in charge of about 32 soldiers. A lot of ADA guys right now are getting deployed, so it would depend on the unit I was stationed with as to where I’d go.”

Because of a new rule (it’s actually about three years old), Army allows its high-profile graduates to go directly to the NFL and, if they can make the team, to fulfill their obligation via recruiting duty and service in the Army Reserve. Since its inception, this is the first time it’s been invoked. Like it or not, the policy makes recruiting athletes at Army easier. Head football coach Bobby Ross can walk into a recruit’s home and tell him he has a better shot at playing in the NFL.

“I initially came to the Academy knowing that I wanted to be an officer in the United States Army. That’s why I came to the Academy, and playing Division I football was just extra. Coach Ross told me my sophomore year that if I continued to play like I was playing, I would have an opportunity to make it to the NFL. That’s when I sat down and had a talk with myself. I decided that if football and the opportunity to play in the National Football League presented itself, I was going to take it. Talking with a lot of officers here at the Academy and my coaches, being a football player in the National Football League and representing the United States Army would be very beneficial, so I decided to go that route.”

I participated in a national conference call with Caleb from West Point today.

DAVID: When did you find out that the Lions were going to take you?

CALEB: I didn’t know until a couple of minutes before they actually took me. Mr. Millen called me around 2:30 that afternoon and told me, ‘Caleb, I can’t promise you anything, but if you’re still around late, I’m probably going to take you.’ I didn’t get my hopes up because I know the Draft is so subjective and things change as the Draft goes on. He called me right before the Packers made their pick and asked me if I would like to be a Lion. I told him I’d love to be a Lion, and he said, ‘Alright, watch your name come up on the screen after the Packers make their pick.’

DAVID: Well, you’re going to be thrown right into it. Rookie camp starts this week. What are your expectations?

CALEB: From what I hear, it’s going to be a lot of work. We’re going to get shuffled around a lot — do this, do that, go get this signed, physicals — and also playing some ball. It’s going to be really competitive. It’s a business that you have to bring the attitude that you’re ready to compete. It’s going to be exciting, but I’ll also be a little bit nervous. It’s going to be a good time.

DAVID: You played safety at West Point, but there are rumors of moving you to sam linebacker. How do you feel about that?

CALEB: It hasn’t been set yet, but initially when I go into camp they’re going to try me out as a sam linebacker. If they see it’s not working out, they’ll move me back to safety.

If you watched the 2008 NFL Draft until the bitter end, you would’ve seen Caleb interviewed on both ESPN’s and NFL Network’s programming. He’s also been featured in Sports Illustrated and on ESPN’s E:60.

“I guess I’m a little surprised. When I did that Sports Illustrated article, the guy who wrote it got a lot of feedback after it was published. He told me that if I got drafted, that I might get a lot of attention, and the attention might not be focused on me, but rather the policy itself. I’m surprised it’s gone to the level that it has, but I’m not really focused on that. I’m focused on making the team.”

DAVID: How do you feel about the potential historic impact of your situation? Since the rule was put into effect, you’re the first one to carry it this far.

CALEB: I just hope I pave the way for future athletes at the Academy if they decide to pursue this career. It’s been kind of a bumpy ride just because it’s a fluid policy and a step-by-step situation. I hope it paves the way for others who can pursue this opportunity if they want to pursue it.

DAVID: How do you feel your time at West Point has prepared you for life in the NFL?

CALEB: Time management, focus and determination. I think one thing people neglect to realize is that 90 percent of our time has been dedicated to being a cadet and a solider, and only 5 to 10 percent of that time has been dedicated to being a football player. We have huge upswings. When we’re able to focus on professional football as a career, our potential will go through the roof and we’ll be able to show what type of football players we can be.