Camp Confidential: They Call Me “Air Force One”

A little guy is making a big splash at Lehigh and Eagles fans are noticing.

But what fans might not notice is that the receiver wearing No. 16 in green served his country before getting his shot at the NFL.

Chad Hall’s route to training camp included two years as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.

“Serving your country is an honor,” Hall said after practice Wednesday. “It’s something to take pride in everyday.”

But don’t call the 24-year-old a hero -- the soft-spoken wideout just doesn’t see it that way.

“I’m not an American hero,” Hall, who served time stateside after graduating form the Air Force Academy, said. “The guys out there overseas fighting the fight everyday who are protecting this country and giving us the freedom to be able to be out here -- they’re the real heroes.”

Hero or not at 5-foot-8 he would seem like a long shot to make the Eagles. That is until you see him flawlessly gobbling up pass after pass at training camp. Maybe all that military discipline has helped his hands.

So has his hard work ethic and sure hands earned him a nickname? Not really. Instead teammates looked towards

“A bunch of (teammates) call me ‘Air Force’ or ‘Air Force One,’” Hall said with a smile.

Time will tell if “Air Force One” will land on the Birds 53-man roster.

Each day of Eagles training camp NBCPhiladelphia.com will focus on different Bird trying to soar at Lehigh.

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