By PFW staff
July 23, 2008

Caleb Campbell, a seventh-round pick out of Army who became something of a cult hero on the second day of the draft, will not get a chance to play in the NFL until at least 2010, if at all.

The Lions drafted Campbell, a safety at West Point, to play weak-side linebacker. But he won’t get the chance to make the team this summer because a new Department of Defense policy maintains that Campbell must give up his dreams in order to serve the Army full time.

At the time Campbell was drafted in April, a policy that was adopted in 2005 stated that Campbell could have served as a Detroit-area recruiter for the armed services had he made the Lions’ roster.

Lions GM Matt Millen was informed of the change in policy in a letter from U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jonathan Liba, which was dated Wednesday. In the letter, Liba wrote that 2nd Lt. Campbell would have to forgo an NFL career for “full-time traditional military duties” but may ask to be released from active status in May 2010.