Navy standout safety says he’s transferring a month after pro policy change

An about-face from the Department of Defense appears to have been a factor in Navy losing a top player.

Safety Alohi Gilman announced he was transferring from Annapolis, Md., earlier this month on Twitter.

"We wish Alohi the best in his pursuit of his childhood dream to play in the NFL," Midshipmen coach Ken Niumatalolo told the Capital Gazette, which reported Gilman's departure.

A direct path to the NFL was possible when Gilman entered Navy this past summer after spending a year at its prep school. But during the NFL draft in late April, the Department of Defense shifted its policy to again require service academy graduates to serve two years on active duty before applying for a shift in status to pursue professional sport. That two-year requirement had been removed in the summer of 2016.

The shift was felt heavily at Air Force, where baseball player Griffin Jax had given up eligibility as a senior after last year's MLB draft and several players had NFL aspirations. Most notable among them was receiver Jalen Robinette, who expected to be a mid-round draft selection. Robinette was not drafted and after spending time in mini-camps with the Bills and Patriots his future is further clouded by what his representatives call an ongoing discipline situation at the academy that prevented him from graduating with his class.

Gilman didn't specifically cite the policy change in his social media post announcing his intentions to leave Navy.

"Presently, I find that my goals and passions are not the best fit with the Naval Academy," he wrote.

Gilman was an honorable mention all- American Athletic Conference pick as a freshman this past season after finishing second at Navy with 76 tackles. He made six stops, including three solo, in a 28-14 loss at Air Force on Oct. 1.

It is not unique for players to leave service academies during their first two years before their commitment becomes binding. And it can be even more tempting for players who have enjoyed on-field success immediately to consider boosting their stock in less-restrictive environments.

Air Force basketball, for example, has lost standout players Tre' Coggins and Matt Mooney in recent years as they transferred after excelling early. Coggins left for Cal-State Fullerton after averaging 16 points as a sophomore in 2013-14. Mooney transferred to South Dakota after his freshman campaign in 2014-15.

So, while Gilman's path isn't new, its timing is certainly noteworthy in that it came a month after the DOD reversed course on an athletic-friendly policy.