Secretary of Defense allows Navy grad Cameron Kinley to play in NFL

July 6 (UPI) -- Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and the Naval Academy will allow rookie cornerback Cameron Kinley to pursue a career in the NFL.

Austin announced Tuesday he approved a plan by the Department of the Navy to enlist Kinley in the Inactive Ready Reserve "for the duration of his football career." The decision comes after Kinley said his request to delay his Navy commission to compete in the NFL had initially been denied.

"Upon completion of his playing time, we look forward to welcoming him back inside the ranks as a naval officer," Austin said in the news release. "In the meantime, 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.

"I applaud Navy leadership for finding this way to showcase both Cameron's athletic prowess, as well as the quality and professionalism of our student-athletes and our personnel."

Earlier Tuesday, Kinley issued a statement saying Austin had informed him he would be allowed to attend training camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers later this month.

"I am extremely appreciative of Secretary Austin's decision and I am excited to represent our fine military in the National Football League," Kinley said. "This past month has been very challenging and I am thankful for everyone who has supported me in any way."

Kinley also thanked the NFL Players Association, the NFL and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., among others, in his statement.

Rubio previously wrote a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to help Kinley delay his commission with the Navy so he could pursue a professional football career.

"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," Biden said in a statement. "After his NFL career is over, he will continue to make us proud as an officer in the United States Navy."

The 22-year-old Kinley, who was a team captain at Navy and class president, signed with the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent and participated in the team's rookie minicamp.

Kinley wasn't provided an explanation on why Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas W. Harker declined to send Kinley's deferment package to Austin. Kinley was told he couldn't appeal the decision.