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Jordan Akins

{{Short description|American football player (born 1992)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2020}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Jordan Akins

| image = Jordan Akins (53141806667) (cropped).jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = Akins with the Cleveland Browns in 2023

| current_team =

| number =

| position = Tight end

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|4|19}}

| birth_place = Locust Grove, Georgia, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 4

| weight_lb = 245

| high_school = McDonough (GA) Union Grove

| college = UCF (2014–2017)

| draftyear = 2018

| draftround = 3

| draftpick = 98

| pastteams =

| status = Active

| statweek =

| statseason = 2024

| statlabel1 = Receptions

| statvalue1 = 206

| statlabel2 = Receiving yards

| statvalue2 = 2,277

| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns

| statvalue3 = 10

| highlights =

  • Colley Matrix national champion (2017)
  • AAC Fifth Anniversary Team (2018){{Cite web |date=July 23, 2018 |title=American Announces Fifth Anniversary Football Team |url=http://theamerican.org/news/2018/7/23/american-announces-fifth-anniversary-football-team.aspx |access-date=July 24, 2018 |website=American Athletic Conference}}
  • First-team All-AAC (2017)

| statleague = NFL

| pfr = A/AkinJo00

}}

Jordan Nikemian Akins (born April 19, 1992) is an American professional football tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at UCF.

Early life

Akins graduated from Union Grove High School in McDonough, Georgia.{{Cite web |last=Calhoun |first=Jimmy |title=From Diamond to Gridiron, UCF Football Star a Man of Many Talents |url=http://knightnews.com/2016/11/from-diamond-to-gridiron-ucf-football-star-a-man-of-many-talents/ |access-date=October 31, 2018 |website=Knight News |date=November 11, 2016 |language=en-US}} He earned All-State honors as both a junior and senior, as well as All-Conference as a sophomore.{{Cite web|title=Jordan Akins - 2017 - Football|url=https://ucfknights.com/sports/football/roster/jordan-akins/5489|access-date=2022-01-05|website=UCF Athletics|language=en}} He committed and signed to play football for the UCF Knights, choosing the Knights over schools such as LSU and Georgia.{{Cite web |last=Bass |first=Ryan |date=February 3, 2010 |title=George O'Leary, UCF Knights Ink Solid 2010 Signing Class |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/338905-george-oleary-ucf-knights-ink-solid-2010-signing-class |access-date=January 15, 2018 |website=Bleacher Report}} However, after being drafted by the Texas Rangers in the third round of the 2010 MLB Draft, he chose to pursue a baseball career instead of attending UCF and signed with the Rangers. Akins struggled in the minor leagues, hitting .218 over four seasons and never rising above high-A ball. He retired from baseball after the 2013 season and returned to play football at UCF.{{Cite web |last=Hankerson |first=Jazmyne |date=September 3, 2014 |title=UCF football player comes back from the big leagues |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2014/09/03/ucf-football-player-comes-back-big-leagues/15034995/ |access-date=January 15, 2018 |website=USA Today}}

College career

As a true freshman in 2014, Akins played in all 13 of UCF's games, catching 12 passes for 135 yards along with returning 15 kickoffs for 363 yards.{{Cite web |title=Jordan Akins 2014 Player Statistics |url=http://www.cfbstats.com/2014/player/128/1062654/index.html |access-date=January 15, 2018 |publisher=cfbstats.com}}

Akins started the 2015 as a starter, but suffered a season-ending injury in UCF's third game against Furman.{{Cite web |title=UCF wide receiver Jordan Akins out for season |url=http://www.centralfloridafuture.com/story/sports/2015/09/21/jordan-akins-out-indefinitely-knights/72564082/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160726220145/http://www.centralfloridafuture.com/story/sports/2015/09/21/jordan-akins-out-indefinitely-knights/72564082/ |archive-date=July 26, 2016 |access-date=January 15, 2018 |publisher=Central Florida Future}} He elected to take a medical redshirt.

As a redshirt sophomore in 2016, Akins once again played in all 13 of UCF's games, tallying 23 receptions for 347 yards and two touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Jordan Akins 2016 Player Statistics |url=http://www.cfbstats.com/2016/player/128/1062654/index.html |access-date=January 15, 2018 |publisher=cfbstats.com}}

Prior to the 2017 season, Akins was named to the John Mackey Award watch list.{{Cite web |title=College football: 2017 John Mackey Award watch list |url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2017-07-11/college-football-2017-john-mackey-award-watch-list |access-date=January 15, 2018 |publisher=NCAA.com}} He played in 12 of UCF's 13 games, catching 32 passes for 515 yards and four touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Jordan Akins 2017 Player Statistics |url=http://www.cfbstats.com/2017/player/128/1062654/index.html |access-date=January 15, 2018 |publisher=cfbstats.com}} After the season, Akins declared for the 2018 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Green |first=Shannon |date=December 15, 2018 |title=UCF football's Tre'Quan Smith and Jordan Akins declare for NFL draft |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/ucf-knights/os-sp-trequan-smith-nfl-draft-20180106-story.html |access-date=2025-02-27 |publisher=Orlando Sentinel}}

=College statistics=

class="wikitable"
style="font-weight:bold;" | Year

! style="font-weight:bold;" | School

! style="font-weight:bold;" | Conf

! style="font-weight:bold;" | Class

! style="font-weight:bold;" | Pos

! style="font-weight:bold;" | G

! style="font-weight:bold;" | Rec

! style="font-weight:bold;" | Yds

! style="font-weight:bold;" | Avg

! style="font-weight:bold;" | TD

2014

| UCF

| AAC

| FR

| WR

| 10

| 12

| 135

| 11.3

| 0

2015

| UCF

| AAC

| SO

| WR

| 3

| 14

| 152

| 10.9

| 2

2016

| UCF

| AAC

| SO

| TE

| 10

| 23

| 347

| 15.1

| 2

2017

| UCF

| AAC

| SR

| TE

| 11

| 32

| 515

| 16.1

| 4

style="font-weight:bold;" | [https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/jordan-akins-1.html Career]

| style="font-weight:bold;" | UCF

| style="font-weight:bold;" |

| style="font-weight:bold;" |

| style="font-weight:bold;" |

| style="font-weight:bold;" |

| style="font-weight:bold;" | 81

| style="font-weight:bold;" | 1,149

| style="font-weight:bold;" | 14.2

| style="font-weight:bold;" | 8

Professional career

=Pre-draft=

On January 3, 2018, Akins announced his decision to forgo his remaining eligibility and enter the 2018 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=UCF TE Jordan Akins declares for NFL Draft |url=https://rotoworld.com/headlines/cfb/78127/ucf-te-jordan-akins-declares-for-nfl-draft |access-date=August 18, 2018 |website=Rotoworld.com}} On January 13, 2018, it was announced that Akins had accepted an invitation to play in the 2018 Senior Bowl.{{Cite web |last=Green, Shannon |date=January 13, 2018 |title=Former UCF tight end Jordan Akins invited to Senior Bowl |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/ucf-knights/os-sp-ucf-jordan-akins-senior-bowl-20180113-story.html |access-date=August 18, 2018 |website=orlandosentinel.com}} On January 27, 2018, Akins played in the 2018 Reese's Senior Bowl and caught two passes for 31 yards as part of Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien's South team that defeated Denver Broncos head coach Vance Joseph's North team 45–16.{{Cite web |date=January 27, 2018 |title=UCF stars Shaquem Griffin, Jordan Akins, Tre'Quan Smith shine in Senior Bowl spotlight |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/ucf-knights/knights-notepad/os-sp-ucf-senior-bowl-20180127-story.html |access-date=August 18, 2018 |website=orlandosentinel.com}} Akins sustained a hamstring injury ten days before the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and was unable to perform any drills and chose to skip the bench press. He attended private workouts and meetings with the Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, and New Orleans Saints.{{Cite web |last=Murphy, Brian |date=April 1, 2018 |title=8 Things Learned During UCF Football's Pro Day |url=http://www.blackandgoldbanneret.com/8-things-learned-during-ucf-footballs-pro-day/ |access-date=August 18, 2018 |website=blackandgoldbanneret.com}} At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, Akins was projected to be a sixth round pick or priority undrafted free agent by NFL draft experts and scouts. He was ranked as the eighth best tight end prospect in the draft by Scouts Inc. and was ranked the 16th best tight end by DraftScout.com.{{Cite web |title=*Jordan Akins, DS #16 TE, Central Florida |url=http://www.draftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=1006713&draftyear=2018&genpos=te |access-date=August 18, 2018 |website=DraftScout.com}}{{Cite web |title=NFL Jordan Akins -ESPN |url=http://espn.com/nfl/draftcard?playerId=101789&src=desktop |access-date=August 18, 2018 |website=ESPN.com}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 6

| height in = 3

| weight = 249

| shuttle = 4.38

| cone drill = 7.29

| vertical = 35

| broad ft = 10

| broad in = 2

| bench = 24

| wonderlic =

| arm span = 33 1/2

| hand span = 9 1/4

| note = All values from NFL Combine/UCF's Pro Day{{Cite web |title=Jordan Akins Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/jordan-akins/3200414b-4950-1776-ed8f-713681e78d61 |access-date=August 18, 2018 |website=National Football League}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1006713&DraftYear=2018 |title=Jordan Akins College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=October 13, 2024}}

}}

=Houston Texans (first stint)=

File:Jordan Akins.JPG

The Houston Texans selected Akins in the third round (98th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft.{{Cite web |title=2018 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2018/draft.htm |access-date=June 1, 2020 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Akins was the fifth tight end drafted in 2018.{{Cite web |last=Kollmann |first=Brett |date=April 27, 2018 |title=Houston Texans Select Jordan Akins With 98th Overall Pick |url=https://www.battleredblog.com/2018/4/27/17291894/2018-nfl-draft-houston-texans-select-jordan-akins-with-98th-overall-pick |access-date=June 10, 2018 |website=BattleRedBlog.com}} He became the highest drafted tight end in UCF's history.{{Cite web |last=Beede, Jason |date=April 27, 2018 |title=Houston Texans select Jordan Akins 98th overall |url=https://247sports.com/college/central-florida/Article/Akins-headed-to-Houston-highest-drafted-TE-in-UCF-history-117774720/ |access-date=August 18, 2018 |website=247sports.com}}{{Cite web |title=Central Florida Drafted Players/Alumni |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/schools/ |access-date=December 5, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} On May 10, 2018, the Texans signed Akins to a four-year, $3.32 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $761,520.{{Cite web |title=Spotrac.com: Jordan Akins contract |url=https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/houston-texans/jordan-akins-25197/ |access-date=August 18, 2018 |website=Spotrac.com}} In the season opener against the New England Patriots, Akins had two receptions for 11 yards in his NFL debut.{{cite web | title=Texans' Jordan Akins: Targeted twice in opener | website=CBSSports.com | date=2018-09-10 | url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/texans-jordan-akins-targeted-twice-in-opener/ | access-date=2024-10-31}} He played in 16 games with six starts, recording 17 receptions for 225 yards.{{Cite web |title=Jordan Akins 2018 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AkinJo00/gamelog/2018/ |access-date=June 1, 2020 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}

In Week 3 of the 2019 season against the Chargers, Akins caught three passes for 73 yards and two touchdowns in the 27–20 win.{{Cite web |date=September 22, 2019 |title=Watson, Watt lead way as Texans outlast Chargers, 27–20 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401127970 |access-date=September 22, 2019 |website=ESPN |agency=Associated Press}} Overall, Akins finished the 2019 season with 36 receptions for 418 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Jordan Akins 2019 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AkinJo00/gamelog/2019/ |access-date=June 1, 2020 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}

In Week 1 of the 2020 season against the Chiefs, Akins recorded two receptions for 39 yards and a touchdown in the 34–20 loss.{{Cite web |title=Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs – September 10th, 2020 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202009100kan.htm |access-date=September 11, 2020 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}

=New York Giants=

On April 22, 2022, the New York Giants signed Akins to a one-year contract.{{Cite web |last=Salomone, Dan |date=April 22, 2021 |title=Giants sign former Texans TE Jordan Akins |url=https://www.giants.com/news/giants-reportedly-agree-to-terms-with-former-texans-te-jordan-akins |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=Giants.com}} On August 24, 2022, Akins was released.{{Cite web |last=Eisen, Michael |date=August 24, 2022 |title=Collin Johnson to IR with Achilles; Giants claim 3 off waivers |url=https://www.giants.com/news/collin-johnson-torn-achilles-giants-roster-moves |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=Giants.com}}

=Houston Texans (second stint)=

On August 31, 2022, Akins was signed to the Texans practice squad.{{Cite web |date=August 31, 2022 |title=Houston Texans Transactions (8-31-2022) |url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/houston-texans-transactions-8-31-2022 |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=HoustonTexans.com}} He was promoted to the active roster on October 12.{{Cite web |date=October 12, 2022 |title=Houston Texans Transactions (10-12-2022) |url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/houston-texans-transactions-10-12-2022 |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=HoustonTexans.com}}

=Cleveland Browns=

On March 18, 2023, Akins signed a two-year contract with the Cleveland Browns.{{Cite web |last=Poisal |first=Anthony |date=March 18, 2023 |title=Browns sign TE Jordan Akins |url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-sign-te-jordan-akins |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=ClevelandBrowns.com}}

NFL career statistics

= Regular season =

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
rowspan="2" |Year

! rowspan="2" |Team

! colspan="2" |Games

! colspan="5" |Receiving

! colspan="5" |Rushing

! colspan="2" |Fumbles

GP

!GS

!Rec

!Yds

!Avg

!Lng

!TD

!Att

!Yds

!Avg

!Lng

!TD

!Fum

!Lost

2018

!HOU

|16

|6

|17

|225

|13.2

|28

|0

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|0

|0

2019

!HOU

|16

|9

|36

|418

|11.6

|53

|2

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|0

|0

2020

!HOU

|13

|5

|37

|403

|10.9

|26

|1

|1

|4

|4.0

|4

|0

|0

|0

2021

!HOU

|13

|3

|24

|214

|8.9

|31

|0

|1

|3

|3.0

|3

|0

|2

|2

2022

!HOU

|15

|3

|37

|495

|13.4

|46

|5

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|1

|1

2023

!CLE

|17

|4

|15

|132

|8.8

|28

|0

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

2024

!CLE

|17

|6

|40

|390

|9.8

|21

|2

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|1

|1

colspan="2" |[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AkinJo00.htm Career]

!107

!36

!206

!2277

!11.1

!53

!10

!2

!7

!3.5

!4

!0

!4

!4

= Postseason =

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
rowspan="2" |Year

! rowspan="2" |Team

! colspan="2" |Games

! colspan="5" |Receiving

! colspan="5" |Rushing

! colspan="2" |Fumbles

GP

!GS

!Rec

!Yds

!Avg

!Lng

!TD

!Att

!Yds

!Avg

!Lng

!TD

!Fum

!Lost

2018

!HOU

|1

|0

|2

|8

|4.0

|7

|0

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|0

|0

2023

!CLE

|1

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

colspan="2" |[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AkinJo00/gamelog/post/ Career]

!2

!0

!2

!8

!4.0

!7

!0

!—

!—

!—

!—

!—

!0

!0

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{Commons}}

{{footballstats|yahoo=31068|espn=3128452|nfl=jordan-akins}}

  • [https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/team/players-roster/jordan-akins/ Cleveland Browns bio]
  • [https://ucfknights.com/sports/football/roster/season/2017/player/jordan-akins UCF Knights bio]

{{2017 UCF Knights football navbox}}

{{Texans2018DraftPicks}}

{{Cleveland Browns roster navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Akins, Jordan}}

Category:1992 births

Category:Living people

Category:African-American baseball players

Category:American football tight ends

Category:Arizona League Rangers players

Category:Baseball outfielders

Category:Cleveland Browns players

Category:Players of American football from Fulton County, Georgia

Category:Hickory Crawdads players

Category:Houston Texans players

Category:Baseball players from Fulton County, Georgia

Category:Spokane Indians players

Category:UCF Knights football players

Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen

Category:21st-century American sportsmen