It’s not very often that members of the service academies make it to the NFL, but this year, one of them is heading to the Super Bowl. Chad Hall, who played college football at Air Force, was signed to the San Francisco 49ers earlier this year as a member of the practice squad, and will be with the team when they play the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, according to Military.com.
Hall, who stands just 5-foot-8, impressed coaches with his exceptional work ethic. He is currently listed as the team’s back up kick and punt returner, and was put on the active roster on January 19, just in time for him to be on the sidelines for the NFC Championship game. He says that his time in the Air Force has helped prepare him for the challenges of professional football.
“It’s not easy, but the Air Force definitely got me prepped for that,” he told the website.
During his time playing for Air Force, Hall was one of the best players on the team. In fact, in 2007 he was named the Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year after leading his team in both receiving yards and rushing yards.