A change in the Department of Defense Pro Sports Policy states that service academy athletes can pursue professional sports after graduating instead of waiting two years — a move that could have a drastic impact on the schools' recruiting, the (Colorado Springs) Gazette reports.
The policy became effective in May and states that a "service member can request to be tendered an appointment in the reserve upon graduation and satisfy their commissioned service obligation in the Ready Reserve." The policy requires a secured contract or commitment from a professional sports team, and Air Force athletics director Jim Knowlton told the Gazette that decisions would be made on a case-by-case basis.
The shift is a game-changer considering most recruits for service academies expect that a potential professional sports career must be was out of the cards. That's now changed.
This spring former Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds was picked in the NFL draft’s fifth round by the Baltimore Ravens. Upon Reynolds' selection, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus said "we can work something out."
