NFL Draft hopeful and Army linebacker Andre Carter II CAN DEFER military service, Congress says

Star Army linebacker Andre Carter II will be eligible for the 2023 NFL Draft thanks to some year-end legislation formally filed Tuesday morning.

Responding to outcry from football fans and other concerned citizens, politicians on Capital Hill added a provision in the Omnibus Appropriations Measure, which is expected to pass this week and will allow Carter and other current academy upperclassmen at Army, Navy and Air Force to defer their obligatory military service to pursue pro sports.

ESPN is reporting that the resolution was reached after the issue caught the attention of several high-ranking members of Congress, including Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, Mitch McConnell and Richard Shelby.

Star Army linebacker Andre Carter II will be eligible for the 2023 NFL draft thanks to some year-end legislation formally filed Tuesday morning

'It's not normal for an issue to be highlighted and less than 10 days later have an opportunity for a bill to go through the House, Senate and get a Presidential signature that quickly,' a source familiar with the legislation told ESPN.

A previous version of the Congressional bill passed last week limited Carter's eligibility by requiring two years of active-duty military service before an individual can receive a waiver to defer the remaining service obligation. That version would have been particularly harsh for Carter, who elected to remain at West Point rather than transferring to another program because he believed he'd have the opportunity to defer his service requirement with the help of a waiver.

But while Carter's eligibility is being reinstated, those enrolling at military service academies in 2025 or later will not be granted that same opportunity.

Representative Mike Gallagher (Republican-Wisconsin) introduced the initial legislation, which would have prevented Carter from pursuing his NFL career in 2023. Gallagher has supported the adjusted language in the bill, but did tell ESPN last week that 'US military service academies exist to produce warfighters, not professional athletes..'

ESPN is reporting that the resolution was reached after the issue caught the attention of several high-ranking members of Congress, including Chuck Schumer (right), Nancy Pelosi (left), Mitch McConnell and Richard Shelby

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Republican-Kentucky) reportedly made this provision a priority ahead of the end of the year 

Carter, a 6-foot-7 outside linebacker, is expected to be drafted anywhere from first to the third round of the NFL Draft, depending on his performance at the Senior Bowl and the pre-draft combine.

He did lead the country with 15.5 sacks in 2021, but has been the focus of opposing blocking schemes in 2022, while registering just three quarterback takedowns.

Carter's parents released a statement to ESPN upon hearing the good news.

'Thank you to the members of congress who stepped up, spoke out and worked expeditiously in support of Andre and other service academy cadets and midshipmen who made decisions in reliance on the 2019 policy allowing deferral of service,' said Carter's parents, Melissa and Andre. 'The goodness we saw in people this past week will forever be imprinted upon us.'

Carter will likely be the highest-drafted Black Knight since 1947, when Army running back Glenn Davis went second overall to the Detroit Lions. Army's Alejandro Villanueva started at offensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers in recent seasons, but actually went undrafted out of West Point in 2010. 

Players from all service-academies will be affected and it may likely alter future enrollments