Secretary Of Defense Says Naval Academy Grad Can Play For Bucs

TAMPA, FL — Cameron Kinley, 22, has two lofty dreams - to play pro football and to be an officer in the Navy. Now, thanks to a nudge from the President of the United States, he'll be able to pursue both.

On Tuesday, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III overruled a decision by Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas W. Harker to deny Kinley's request to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before continuing his career as a Naval officer.

President Joe Biden praised Austin's decision.

"Today, I was pleased to learn from Secretary of Defense Austin that he has granted Cameron Kinley’s request to pursue a playing career in the National Football League prior to his service as a naval officer," Biden said in a statement. "I am confident that Cameron will represent the Navy well in the NFL, just as he did as a standout athlete and class president at the Naval Academy. After his NFL career is over, he will continue to make us proud as an officer in the United States Navy."

Kinley said Austin's announcement was an answer to his prayers.

"The most valuable lesson I learned throughout this whole process is to trust His timing and remain confident in the fact that God will always prevail," said the Memphis, Tennessee, native in a statement.

A standout cornerback on the Naval Academy's Midshipmen football team, Kinley recently graduated from the academy in Annapolis where he was president of his class. He was due to begin his five-year commitment to serve as a naval officer when the 6-foot 2-inch 204-pound player was signed by the Buccaneers as a free agent in May after going undrafted in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Kinley participated in the Buc's rookie mini-camp where he made an impression on Bucs coaches. Nevertheless, Bucs head coach Bruce Arians was hesitant to put Kinley on the official roster until his conflict with the Navy was resolved.

However, Harker remained steadfast in his refusal to give Kinley a deferment from his naval obligations to play pro football.

Austin reversed Harker's decision after Kinley made a personal appeal to the president.

Kinley said he also received a great deal of support from DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the NFL Players Association, who contacted NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about Kinley's situation.

“This union fully supports Cameron,” Smith said in an interview. “I’ve been in touch with Roger and folks at the NFL. We had a joint call with his representatives. We’re all working, making direct contacts with people in government about this. We’ve reached out to his senator and others to help us on this. I think that this is a tremendous opportunity not only for Cameron, but a tremendous opportunity for the service academies and our military as well."

On Tuesday, Austin said Kinley will be allowed to delay his mandatory military commission "for the duration of his football career."

Cameron Kinley was a standout cornerback on the Naval Academy's Midshipmen's football team."Today we were informed by the office of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III that Cameron Kinley has been granted permission to delay his commission to the United States Navy in order to pursue an opportunity to play in the National Football League," said Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht. "We are thrilled for Cameron and very much appreciate the Pentagon's willingness to work with him so that he may compete at training camp for a chance to earn a spot on our roster."

Kinley is the first player from any military academy to play for the Buccaneers.

He started the past two seasons for the Navy team, making 64 tackles, one interception and 10 passes.

Kinley is due to start training with the Bucs on July 25. He'll be one of 10 cornerbacks on the Buccaneers' camp roster and will compete for one of five spots on the regular-season 53-player roster.

"I am extremely appreciative of Secretary Austin's decision and am excited to represent our fine military in the National Football League," Kinley said in a statement. "This past month has been very challenging, and I am thankful for everyone who has supported me in any way. Thank you to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for believing in me and remaining patient with me throughout this process. I am excited to get back to work in Tampa Bay with my teammates."