In May 2016, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced former Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds, fullback Chris Swain (who spent training camp with the San Diego Chargers before being cut) and long snapper Joe Cardona (currently with the New England Patriots) would be allowed to forgo their five-year active duty commitment in order to pursue their goals of playing in the NFL. In exchange for forgoing active duty, the trio agreed to serve in the Ready Reserve for eight years.
Reynolds was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the NFL Draft and is currently working as a wide receiver and return specialist on the team's practice squad, giving him more time to learn the new positions. He received an information warfare assignment before graduating from the Naval Academy earlier in the year.
So how does someone go about being a professional football player and serving in the Naval Reserves at the same time? Reynolds took time ahead of the Ravens' bye week to explain to PressBox.
