Army program helping punter pursue NFL dream

“It doesn't hurt that he is from the military, but we think he has a chance to be a good football player. That is first and foremost. It's not a feel-good story for us.”

Coming out of college, Owen Tolson faces two very different career choices.

He's either going to be punting for the New York Giants or another NFL team, or he is going to be shooting down planes and helicopters with the Army.

Welcome to the Army's Alternative Service Option program. It was implemented in 2005 to give West Point student-athletes a chance to play professionally and complete their service by serving as recruiters and in the reserves.

Tolson and two other seniors from the football team _ safety Caleb Campbell and fullback Mike Viti _ will try to make NFL rosters this summer, while fellow classmates leave West Point to begin training for future assignments that may lead to deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan and other areas of conflict. Read more