The former LSU product finished 2009 with back-to-back starts at safety for the Chicago Bears

 The Detroit Lions waived the 6-foot-6, 300-pound second-year player on Tuesday.

Barton played in one game for the new  Chicago Bears jerseys in 2008 after they drafted him in the seventh round out of Ohio State. He has also spent time with the Dolphins, 49ers and Bengals.

Barton was an All-Big Ten first-team selection his senior season in 2007 after starting all 26 games at right tackle for the Buckeyes during his final two years in college.

"I finished the season starting against the Vikings and the Lions," Steltz said. "I just got to continue to build on that. I got to use that playing experience and to take it day by day."

The 24-year-old safety is in town again for Jacob Hester's football camp at Calvary. Steltz has attended both years of his former teammate's camp. The three-day event finishes today.

"It's awesome to have Craig back here," Hester said. "All the kids recognize him with his long hair. They can point him out anywhere. Hopefully we can have a long relationship and keep going to each other's camps. He's the same point I'm at. We're both going into our third year."

Steltz moved into a starting role when the Bears suffered injuries in their defensive backfield late last season. Steltz, a 6-foot-1, 210-pound safety had five tackles and an assist in a 36-30 overtime win over Minnesota on Dec. 28 and two tackles in a 37-23 win over Detroit on Jan. 3.

This season he is eyeing the starting strong safety job. The team could also use him at free safety. Steltz has 26 solo tackles and three assists in 23 games.

"It's going to be a battle in training camp for the two starting jobs," Steltz said. "I just got to go out there and continue to compete. You got to go out there and prove yourself every year. You continue to work out. It's nothing different than last year. You try to learn from the guys in front of you that's played six or seven years. What got them to that point? Whether it's working out or working with the defense, you got to make sure you know everything."

Landing a starting gig isn't Steltz's only goal. He wants to see Chicago back in the playoffs. The Bears, who will sport a speedier offense with new offensive coordinator in Mike Martz this season, are in a three-year playoff drought.

"We've hired a couple new offensive coaches and we have a defense that's coming together," Stelt