First, Jalen Robinette learned just before last month's NFL draft that the Air Force would not approve his release from two years of active military service to pursue an NFL career.
Now, graduation is on hold for the former Air Force wide receiver.
The Air Force stated that Robinette was removed from Wednesday's graduation ceremony and that his qualifications for graduation are under evaluation.
"Cadet Robinette was removed from the graduation lineup after academy leadership became aware of information that called into question cadet Robinette's eligibility/qualification to graduate and commission. Cadet Robinette's graduation and commissioning will be placed on hold while we further evaluate," a spokesman for the Academy stated in a release to the Denver Post. "Due to privacy-related concerns, we are unable to comment on the circumstances. We can say that the circumstances do not involve any allegations of criminal wrongdoing and are unrelated to cadet Robinette's professional football pursuits."
Robinette caught 35 passes for 959 yards and six touchdowns for Air Force this season, and competed at the Reese's Senior Bowl in January. He ran a 4.62 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine in March, broad-jumped 10 feet and measured 6-foot-3, 220 pounds. However, shortly before last month's draft, the Air Force confirmed it would not permit Robinette to defer his two-year active duty requirement, which had been expected and had been afforded to previous service academy football players with NFL aspirations.
Robinette went undrafted. He participated in minicamps for the Bills and Patriots but remains a free agent. According to the Denver Post, Robinette's agent has been working to get him cleared to pursue the NFL without the immediate two-year active duty requirement.
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