(Photo by Adrian J. Hernandez / New Day Review)
ORLANDO, Fla. – Two seasons ago, tight end Jordan Akins suffered a season-ending knee injury in the 2015 winless season. Following his first year at tight end and his first year under Scott Frost in 2016, the former pro-baseball player has found a new-and-improved form capable of a career season.
Part of Akins’ improved form from last season is he’s no longer playing with a knee brace. That impeded him from being able to plant and cut as smoothly as he would’ve liked a season ago.
“I feel great. I’m actually playing without a knee brace, and, you know, I feel like a lot more looser, and I know the offense a lot better,” Akins said after practice on Sept. 26. “So, I’m able to play fast and use my ability to get open and make plays.”
Said Akins on the difference playing without a knee brace makes: “Yeah, you know, having a knee brace, you only can get, really, just get north and south really fast. Without a knee brace, I’m more shifty, you know, and I can run better routes and, you know, go in and out real quick.”
Frost has noticed a significantly improved Akins more akin to the tight end’s full-potential self. Numbers-wise, Akins is second in yards and tied for first in receiving touchdowns for the Knights, catching five passes for two touchdowns and 102 yards in just two games this year. His career-highs in yards and touchdowns are 347 and two, respectively.
Physically, the 25-year-old is more impressive, too. In 2016, Akins was listed at 6-foot-3, 237 pounds; Akins is listed at 6-foot-4, 262 pounds this season.
“Yeah, you know, I don’t think we saw the best of Jordan last year, coming off the ACL [tear] from the year before,” Frost said. “He’s put on a bunch of weight, and he looks faster and more explosive. He’s got elite ball skills and route-running ability, and we’re starting to see that.”
Of Akins’ improvements, though, Frost’s favorite is perhaps the least exciting: his blocking. As starting tight end, Akins has helped the Knights’ rushing attack to the 46th-most yards per game (199) and the 56th-most rushing touchdowns (seven). Last season, the Knights scored just 25 times on the ground in 13 games; this year, they’re poised to score more than 45.
“What I really appreciate—he’s starting to block better, too, and that’s been a big part of the improvement in the run game,” the second-year Knights head coach said. “So, he’s done some really good things for us, and he’s an asset and a weapon for us on offense.”
For Akins, that improvement comes down to simply already having a year’s experience under his belt. Of course, an extra 30 pounds didn’t hurt his cause either.
“Well the main focus was gaining weight [in the offseason] and, you know, learning how to use the weight,” Akins said. “And just learning, you know, the techniques and the fundamentals of blocking. That was my first year last year hand in the dirt, playing tight end, so, you know, this year, I gotta, you know, I kinda got a grasp of it and perfected it and trusting the process that the coaches are teaching me, and, going forward, it’s worked out for me right now.”
Akins’ early success has bred confidence in both coaching staff and players alike. In fact, second-year starting quarterback McKenzie Milton has the ultimate confidence in Akins.
“I mean, he’s awesome. He’s put in the work in the offseason, and it’s paying dividends during the games,” Milton said after practice on Sept. 26. “In my opinion, he’s probably the best tight end in the country. He runs like a gazelle, and he’s big, physical, 260 pounds, 6-foot-5, played center field in baseball. Like, he’s just a freak athlete and blessed to have him.”
Milton will have a chance to find Akins for more touchdowns on Saturday when the Knights host the Memphis Tigers, favorites for the American Athletic Conference West, in both teams’ first AAC game of 2017. The game is set to start at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN2.
For more on Akins and the Knights, as they prepare to host Memphis, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.
