Jordan Akins Bio
Jordan Nikemian Akins is an American professional football tight end for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). Born on April 19, 1992, in Locust Grove, Georgia, he first pursued a career in professional baseball before returning to football and working his way onto an NFL roster. He played college football for the UCF Knights, where his size and receiving ability made him a steady target in the passing game.
Selected by the Houston Texans in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Akins became the highest drafted tight end in UCF history. Across stops with the Texans, New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, and now the Jacksonville Jaguars, he has built a reputation as a reliable pass catcher and a disciplined route runner at the tight end position.
Early Life and Background
Jordan Nikemian Akins grew up in Locust Grove, Georgia, a small community south of Atlanta. He attended Union Grove High School in McDonough, Georgia, where he developed into a multi-sport athlete with a clear future in football. His size and athletic ability drew the attention of college programs during his high school years.
Akins earned All-State honors as both a junior and a senior at Union Grove, and he picked up All-Conference recognition as a sophomore, signaling his steady growth throughout his prep career. His performances led to scholarship offers from several major programs, including LSU and Georgia, before he committed to the UCF Knights.
However, Akins never made it to the UCF campus right away. After being selected by the Texas Rangers in the third round of the 2010 MLB Draft, he chose to chase a professional baseball career instead of enrolling in college. He spent several seasons in the Rangers’ minor league system before retiring from baseball after the 2013 season and turning back to football.
Path to American Football
After his baseball career ended, Akins enrolled at the University of Central Florida and joined the UCF Knights football program. The transition from the baseball diamond back to the gridiron required patience, but his physical tools translated well to the tight end position. By the time he reached his senior season, he had become a central figure in the Knights’ offense.
As a true freshman in 2014, Akins played in all 13 of UCF’s games and showed his versatility by catching 12 passes for 135 yards while also returning 15 kickoffs for 363 yards. A season-ending injury in the third game of 2015 forced him to take a medical redshirt, but he returned healthy in 2016 and recorded 23 receptions for 347 yards and two touchdowns across another full 13-game slate.
His senior campaign in 2017 was his most productive. Akins earned a spot on the John Mackey Award watch list, a preseason honor given to the nation’s top tight end, and he delivered 32 catches for 515 yards and four touchdowns. That production earned him First-team All-AAC honors and helped UCF claim a Colley Matrix national championship in 2017.
Jordan Akins Career
Early Career (2018)
On January 3, 2018, Akins announced he would forgo his remaining college eligibility and enter the 2018 NFL Draft. He accepted an invitation to the 2018 Senior Bowl, where he played on the South team coached by Bill O’Brien and caught two passes for 31 yards in a 45–16 win over the North squad. A hamstring injury kept him out of the NFL Scouting Combine drills, but he still went on to be selected in the third round, 98th overall, by the Houston Texans.
Akins signed a four-year, $3.32 million contract with the Texans that included a $761,520 signing bonus. In his NFL debut against the New England Patriots, he recorded two receptions for 11 yards, and he went on to play in 16 games with six starts as a rookie, finishing with 17 catches for 225 yards.
Houston Texans Breakthrough (2018–2021)
Akins spent his first four NFL seasons in Houston, growing into a consistent part of the passing game. In 2019, he had his most productive stretch as a Texan, highlighted by a Week 3 game against the Los Angeles Chargers in which he caught three passes for 73 yards and two touchdowns in a 27–20 win. He finished that season with 36 receptions for 418 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.
The 2020 season opened with another strong showing, as Akins posted two receptions for 39 yards and a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1. Across his Texans tenure, he developed into a dependable target for multiple quarterbacks, working the middle of the field and serving as a safety valve on shorter routes.
Journeyman Years (2022–2024)
On April 22, 2022, Akins signed a one-year contract with the New York Giants, but he was released on August 24, 2022, before the regular season. He quickly returned to familiar ground when the Texans signed him to their practice squad on August 31, 2022, and promoted him to the active roster on October 12 of that year.
On March 18, 2023, Akins signed a two-year contract with the Cleveland Browns, giving him another opportunity to establish himself as a rotational tight end. He spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons in Cleveland, adding veteran experience to a Browns tight end room that valued his route running and blocking.
Jacksonville Jaguars Era (2025–Present)
On October 13, 2025, Akins signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad, joining an AFC South division rival of his longtime former team. The move brought him back to the state of Florida and reunited him with the kind of tight end friendly offensive scheme that suited his skill set earlier in his career. He remains under contract through the 2026 season, giving Jacksonville stability at the position.
Notable Events and Milestones
Akins became the highest drafted tight end in UCF history when the Texans selected him 98th overall in 2018. His three-touchdown performance across the 2019 and 2020 seasons showed his ability to produce in the red zone, and his longevity across five NFL organizations reflects the durability and consistency that have defined his professional career. He was also named to the AAC Fifth Anniversary Team in 2018, recognizing the best players from the conference’s first five years.
Jordan Akins Career Wins
While tight end statistics are tracked by receptions, yards, and touchdowns rather than win totals, Akins has contributed to several team victories across his NFL stops. His most memorable individual win came in a Week 3 game against the Chargers in 2019, when his two-touchdown performance helped Houston secure a 27–20 victory.
NFL Career Highlights
Akins has played in regular season games for the Houston Texans, Cleveland Browns, and Jacksonville Jaguars, with practice squad stints for the New York Giants and a return to the Texans. He earned First-team All-AAC recognition in 2017 and was part of UCF’s Colley Matrix national championship squad that same year. He has consistently filled a complementary pass catching role, averaging dependable production as a move tight end.
Jordan Akins Family
Personal Life
Jordan Nikemian Akins keeps much of his personal life private, and limited public information is available about his family. His path from Locust Grove, Georgia, to professional baseball and back to professional football is the most widely documented part of his personal story. His commitment to UCF after stepping away from baseball underscored the importance of family ties to his home state of Georgia.
2025 Season Performance
Akins joined the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad on October 13, 2025, midway through the regular season. The signing gives the Jaguars additional depth at tight end and adds a veteran presence who has logged NFL game action since 2018. With a contract that runs through the 2026 season, the team has flexibility to evaluate him over the rest of the current campaign.
Jacksonville’s offensive scheme has historically leaned on tight ends in the passing game, which fits Akins’ profile as a reliable underneath target. His familiarity with AFC South opponents from previous stints with the Texans could help him contribute quickly if he is elevated to the active roster.
Heading into the final weeks of the 2025 season, Akins is positioned as a depth piece with starting experience, a role he has filled effectively throughout his career. His mix of size, route running, and special teams value gives the Jaguars a low risk addition as they manage injuries and rest their top pass catchers down the stretch.