Jordan Akins facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jordan Akins

Akins with the Browns in 2023
No. 88 – Cleveland Browns
Position:	Tight end
Personal information
Born:	(1992-04-19) April 19, 1992 (age 33) Locust Grove, Georgia, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:	245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High school:	McDonough (GA) Union Grove
College:	UCF (2014–2017)
NFL Draft:	2018 / Round: 3 / Pick: 98
Career history
Houston Texans (2018–2021) New York Giants (2022)* Houston Texans (2022) Cleveland Browns (2023–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
Colley Matrix national champion (2017) AAC Fifth Anniversary Team (2018) First-team All-AAC (2017)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 16, 2024
Receptions: 194 Receiving yards: 2,168 Receiving touchdowns: 9
Player stats at PFR

Jordan Nikemian Akins (born April 19, 1992) is an American professional football player. He plays as a tight end for the Cleveland Browns in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the NFL, he played college football at UCF.

Early Life and Sports Choices

Jordan Akins grew up in McDonough, Georgia, and went to Union Grove High School. He was a fantastic football player, earning "All-State" honors as a junior and senior. This means he was recognized as one of the best players in the entire state! He also received "All-Conference" honors as a sophomore.

Jordan was so good that top colleges like LSU and Georgia wanted him to play football for them. He decided to commit to the UCF Knights.

However, something unexpected happened. The Texas Rangers, a professional baseball team, drafted him in 2010. Jordan chose to play baseball instead of going to college for football. He spent four seasons playing in the minor leagues, which are like training leagues for professional baseball. He didn't have much success in baseball, so he decided to retire from the sport after the 2013 season. After that, he returned to his original plan: playing football at UCF.

College Football Career

Jordan Akins started his college football journey at UCF in 2014 as a "true freshman." This means he played in his first year of college. He played in all 13 games, catching 12 passes and returning kickoffs.

In 2015, he started the season strong but got injured in the third game. Because of this, he took a "medical redshirt." This allowed him to recover from his injury and play another year of college football later, without losing a year of eligibility.

When he returned in 2016 as a redshirt sophomore, Jordan played in all 13 games again. He caught 23 passes and scored two touchdowns.

Before the 2017 season, Jordan was named to the John Mackey Award watch list. This award goes to the best tight end in college football. He had a great season, catching 32 passes and scoring four touchdowns. After this successful year, Jordan decided to "declare for the 2018 NFL draft." This means he made himself available to be chosen by professional NFL teams.

Journey to the NFL

Before the NFL Draft, players go through a "pre-draft" process. This includes events like the 2018 Senior Bowl, where top college players compete. Jordan played in the Senior Bowl and caught two passes. He also attended the NFL Scouting Combine, where players show off their skills. However, Jordan had a hamstring injury and couldn't do all the drills. He also met with several NFL teams like the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs. Experts thought he might be picked in a later round or become an "undrafted free agent."

Houston Texans (First Time)

The Houston Texans picked Jordan Akins in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He was the 98th player chosen overall. This was a big deal because he became the highest-drafted tight end ever from UCF! The Texans signed him to a four-year contract.

In his first NFL game in 2018, Jordan caught two passes. He played in all 16 games that season. In 2019, he had a standout game against the Chargers, catching two touchdowns. He finished that season with 36 catches. In 2020, he continued to contribute, scoring another touchdown in Week 1.

New York Giants and Return to Texans

In 2022, Jordan signed a one-year contract with the New York Giants. However, he was released before the season started. Soon after, he rejoined the Houston Texans on their practice squad and was later moved to the main team.

Cleveland Browns

In March 2023, Jordan Akins signed a two-year contract with the Cleveland Browns. He continues to play for them as a tight end.

Images for kids

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  Jordan Akins playing for the Houston Texans in 2018.