Houston Texans: Athleticism reigns supreme in round three
By T.A. Mock
98th: Jordan Akins, TE Central Florida
Depending on where you look, Akins could’ve gone anywhere from round three to undrafted. The Houston Texans, however, saw value in him and nabbed him at the end of the third round.
Akins signed with UCF out of high school but opted to pursue baseball instead. He played four years in Rangers organization before enrolling at UCF in 2014.
His first year was not very productive at the wide receiver position. His sophomore year he tore his ACL and spent his time rehabbing in the weight room. He beefed up and moved to tight end after that. The move to tight end seemed to be a smart one. He had 515 yards to go with four touchdowns this past year.
The former outfielder shows excellent tracking ability while the ball is in the air. This surely comes from his days shagging fly balls. He also showed a phenomenal ability to go up and pluck the ball out of the air with his hands. Being a hands catcher rather than a body catcher is a huge plus.
He also has the spend to pair with his size to cause severe match up problems. He’ll be able to run past linebackers, but out-body safeties.
He may have to be brought along slowly to expand his route tree. Regardless this guy knows how to be a pro after his baseball career. His age and limited route tree give some pause, but tight end is a position that ages well.