Air Force Academy's Chad Hall was the Mountain West Conference's Offensive Player of the Year in 2007.

Two years later, he's a Philadelphia Eagle.

"I'm definitely excited to be an Eagle. It's a great offense to be in. I'm looking forward to learn it," Hall said. "I'm in better shape (than I was two years ago). Physically, I'm stronger. I weigh more and it's all good weight. I've been working out constantly for the last year and a half. It's not like I've been taking a break or anything.

"Besides the Air Force, which was my primary mission, after that my one goal, my one dream in life was to get back on the field and play in the NFL."

He was the only player in the nation to lead his team in rushing yards (1,478), receiving yards (50/524) and all-purpose yards (2,683) in that 2007 season. He also scored 16 touchdowns as he broke the school records that year for rushing yards in a single game (275) and all-purpose yards in a single game (333). He finished as the school's all-time leader in all-purpose yards with 4,098.

After a stellar career at a Division I program, thriving in an offense run by head coach Troy Calhoun who used to be the offensive coordinator of the Houston Texans, Hall could easily have dreamed that he would shortly be playing on Sundays in the NFL.

But there was just one catch. His two-year military obligation.

Hall believed that he likely wouldn't have been drafted even without the commitment to serve our country, but nonetheless his name was not called during the 2008 NFL Draft. And he didn't have a team after the all of the rookie free agents were signed. He had a tryout with the Atlanta Falcons, but shortly thereafter, began his service as a maintenance officer at Hill Air Force Base in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Hall said that he would focus on being a slot receiver in the Eagles offense as well as a return man. He said that he has experience as both a punt and a kickoff returner.

-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 4:11 p.m., March 11