Army Veteran Daniel Rodriguez Signs With St. Louis Rams

When Daniel Rodriguez enrolled at Clemson, it wasn’t the first time he had made a decision of that magnitude. In 2006, fresh out of high school, Rodriguez in spur of his father’s death, enlisted into the Army.

While in the Army, Rodriguez served two tours of duty in the Middle East and received a purple Heart and Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device after fighting while wounded in the Battle of Kamdesh in 2009 during his second tour, a 12-month deployment in Afghanistan. His first tour was a 15-month stint in Iraq.

But, Rodriguez has a new challenge ahead of him. Rodriguez made headlines this week by signing a contract with the St. Louis Rams.

Rodriguez stands at just 5-8, 190-pounds and will be a long-shot to make the final roster, but we are all on his side to do so.

His story was first told on an ESPN Feature and has also published an autobiography.

"“It’s been incredible, honestly,” Rodriguez said in a recent interview with stlouisrams.com. “Coming here has been something that’s really opened my eyes — being surrounded by elite athletes and an organization that’s incredible. And I’m just trying to make the most of it.”"

While Rodriguez didn’t see a lot of action while at Clemson, his most memorable play came on Military Appreciation day. On fourth-and-goal, Rodriguez received the hand-off and took the ball into the endzone for a 2-yard touchdown, the only one of his career.

The story of this young man will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. He has seen more things than most people will in a lifetime. During his second tour, Rodriguez promised a friend, who later passed away in action that he would give football another chance. And that is exactly what he did.

Rodriguez is an inspiration to millions of people, and will continue to use everything he has learned in life into making the Rams’ roster in the Fall.

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