Bill might nix NFL draft for Army 1st-round hopeful Andre Carter II

A sudden potential roadblock has emerged that could prevent Army star linebacker Andre Carter II and other talented athletes at service academies from playing professional sports directly out of school.

The Military Times reported on Dec. 8 that a potential change in the policy for athletes at the academies emerged as part of a bill being passed through Congress. Since 2019, athletes at military academies have had the ability to apply for a waiver to delay their active service requirement and immediately pursue professional sports opportunities.

That rule, pushed through by former President Donald Trump in 2019, appears on the cusp of being revoked. Tucked in Section 553 of the National Defense Authorization Act, which passed the Senate on Thursday and is headed to President Joe Biden’s desk, is language that states an “agreement by a cadet or midshipman to play professional sport constitutes a breach of service obligation.” The bill covers the Army, Navy and Air Force and states: “The cadet may not obtain employment, including as a professional athlete, until after completing the cadet’s commissioned service obligation.” That obligation is, according to Army, five years of active duty and three years in the individual ready reserve.

The change is expected to take place when the bill is signed, which could be as early as next week.

The amendment was introduced by Mike Gallagher, a Republican congressman from Wisconsin’s eighth district. Late Friday, just over a week after The Military Times report was published, Gallagher’s spokesperson offered an update in which Gallagher acknowledged that current athletes at the academies “signed up with the understanding that they could apply for a waiver to defer their military service.”

Gallagher said in a statement to ESPN: “I will be working with my colleagues to identify a legislative fix that addresses this issue by grandfathering in existing athletes into the current system.”

Gallagher added that…