OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens are giving Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds a chance to make the team as a wide receiver and returner. He just hopes the Navy will allow him to do that.
After being drafted in the sixth round, Reynolds said he is optimistic that he can pursue his NFL dream while honoring his service commitment like Joe Cardona, who is the New England Patriots' long snapper as well as an active member of the Navy.
The Navy gets a five-year service commitment from Reynolds in exchange for his undergraduate education.
"I'm hoping and praying and I'm confident that there's potential that there could be the same type of situation with myself," Reynolds said Saturday. "Again, it's up to the Navy. Right now, I'm trying to bask in what the now is."
Reynolds expects to hear a decision from the Navy within the next few days.
"Obviously, being in the DMV [D.C.-Maryland-Virginia] area still is going to help my cause," Reynolds said. "But again, that's a call that's up for the Navy."
This marks the second straight year that a Navy player has been drafted. There were none drafted from 1996 to 2014.
As a quarterback for Navy, Reynolds set FBS records for career touchdowns (88) and rushing yards by a quarterback (4,559). He has spent the past few months trying to convert to receiver and returner, running routes and working with former All-Pro returner Brian Mitchell.
"I feel like my best area is in space with the football," Reynolds said. "I feel like that's where I'll have success at the next level."
Despite his success, Reynolds was not asked to come to New York for the Heisman Trophy announcement and was not invited to the NFL scouting combine, which brings in 332 players.
"I've been proving people wrong my entire life," Reynolds said. "There are some people who didn't think I would even get drafted. There are people who obviously didn't think I deserved to go to New York. I just continue to try to prove them wrong and prove myself right."