It’s not uncommon for members of the service academies to receive NFL contracts.
That happened again this year.
And one Navy member just got a career-changing answer about playing in the NFL.
Former Navy Midshipmen cornerback Cameron Kinley impressed the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the team’s post-draft rookie minicamp.
Kinley then asked the Navy to delay his five-year service commitment so he could pursue his NFL dream and try to make the Bucs roster in training camp.
The Navy denied this request.
“The mission of the Naval Academy is to develop young men and women to commission as officers in the Navy or Marine Corps. When students accept admission and continue their education in this program, there is an understanding and acknowledgment that they will upon graduation be commissioned. Every Midshipman attends on the same terms and each has the same responsibility to serve. Exceptions to that commitment to serve have been rightfully rare,” Captain J. Dorsey of the United States Navy told Tampa Bay’s Fox 13.
“Following discussions with senior Department of Navy leadership and in accordance with existing Department of Defense policy, acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas W. Harker, declined to forward requests from recent Naval Academy graduates to the Secretary of Defense, seeking to delay their commissions,” Captain Dorsey added.
There are three current service academy players on NFL rosters who were granted requests to delay service by various branches of the military.
But in this case, the Navy may have felt that as an undrafted free agent Kinley may not have a good shot to win a roster spot on the Super Bowl champions that returned all 22 starters.
Sports with Balls will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this ongoing story.
