After being up in the air for the past month, record-setting Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds’s NFL dreams have been solidified.
Reynold’s military commitment was officially deferred Friday, as the former Midshipman received the go-ahead from United States Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter at the Naval Academy’s graduation ceremony. Carter made the announcement during his speech to the graduates, telling Reynolds and his classmates, “Go get ’em,” according to the Baltimore Sun.
Reynolds later released a statement on the announcement through the website of the Baltimore Ravens, the team that selected him last month in the NFL draft’s sixth round.
“It is a blessing to hear the news from Defense Secretary Carter today. I am truly excited to proudly serve my country while having the ability fulfill my dream of playing for the best organization in the NFL,” Reynolds said in a statement.
Other former military academy players have had to go back-and-forth between their professional athletic pursuits, but as early as the beginning of May, Reynolds’s pro dreams seemed to have a better shot than some of those that have come before him. In a May 5 appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show,” Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus told Patrick he was doing “everything I can” to help Reynolds receive the required clearance to participate in the league.
While some have derided the decision to allow Reynolds the opportunity as a misuse of government funds – the argument being Reynolds is shirking the commitment and thus wasting the Academy’s investment – Mabus reiterated the fact the Navy still plans on using Reynolds, even if he’s on an NFL sideline for the foreseeable future. In his interview with Patrick, Mabus suggested Reynolds will lend a hand with the Navy’s outreach and advertising projects while he competes in the league.
“If Keenan’s playing for the Ravens, and he’s going out recruiting for the Navy and making appearances for us, that’s a great way for him to serve,” Mabus said. “He’s going to attract a lot of the great talent we need to stay in the Navy.”
Since drafting Reynolds, the Ravens have stated their intention to work out the NCAA career touchdowns leader as a wide receiver and special teams return specialist. Reynolds recently participated in Baltimore’s rookie minicamp but missed this past weeks OTAs due to the Academy’s graduation activities.
(c) 2016, The Washington Post ยท Nick Martin
