WASHINGTON -- Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Tuesday that the U.S. military will allow Naval Academy graduate Cameron Kinley to pursue a career in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Acting Navy Secretary Tom Harker had denied Kinley's request to delay his commissioning. But Austin reversed that decision, saying that “we know Cameron will take every opportunity on and off the field to ably represent the Navy and the military to the American people and to assist us in our recruiting efforts.”
This is a CB who made no all-star teams and has had 1 interception in his Navy career. He is not projected to be drafted by the NFL. Recall that Stabauch and Bellino served before entering the NFL. David Robinson was given a posting at a site that allowed him to pursue an NBA career.
From Wikipedia.
Robinson considered leaving the academy after his second year, before incurring an obligation to serve on active duty. He decided to stay after discussing with the Superintendent the likelihood that his height would prevent him from serving at sea as an unrestricted line officer, which would be detrimental to his naval career, and might make it impossible for him to receive a commission at all. As a compromise, Secretary of the Navy John Lehman allowed Robinson to train for and receive a commission as a staff officer in the Civil Engineer Corps. As a result, Robinson was commissioned in the Naval Reserve and was required to serve only an initial active-duty obligation of two years. After graduating from the Naval Academy, Robinson became a civil engineering officer at the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in Georgia.[7] He was regularly featured in recruiting materials for the service. Despite the nickname "Admiral", Robinson's actual rank upon fulfilling his service commitment was Lieutenant (junior grade).[8]
I think the Navy might try to use him for marketing purposes.
Slight Off-Topic: Will the new NCAA rules hurt the military academies trying to recruit top talent? Or will they also let their cadets and midshipmen sell their likenesses?
With that money coming in, the academy players might be able to buy off their service obligations.
Thomas Sowell: There are no solutions, just trade-offs.
