2021 NFL Draft Prospect Summary: JaQuez Akins, DB, UT Martin
JaQuez Akins
- School: UT Martin
- Position: S
- HT: 5ft9
- WT: 185
- Hometown: Starkville, MS
- High School: Starkville
- Recruit Ranking
- Rivals: Not Ranked
- 247: Not Ranked
- ESPN: Not Ranked
- Guided EMCC to back-to-back national championships while posting a 23-1 record in two seasons
2017 Season (East Mississippi Community College)
- Totaled 33 total tackles, including 26 solos and 7 assists
- Forced a pair of fumbles against Itawamba CC and Northwest Mississippi CC
- Recorded a season-high six tackles in the national championship against Arizona Western
2018 Season (East Mississippi Community College)
- Registered 45 combined tackles, including 28 solos and 17 assists
- Recorded five pass breakups, 3.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery
- Totaled a career-best eight tackles against Itawamba CC
- Named to the 2018 MACJC All-State/North Division first team
- Led the NJCAA and MACJC champion EMCC Lions with four interceptions – returning a pair for touchdowns
2019 Season (UT Martin)
- Named All-Ohio Valley Conference first-team
- Selected to OVC All-Newcomer squad
- Earned Phil Steele All-Conference second team
- Started all 12 games at safety
- Compiled 92 total tackles, including 53 solos and 39 assists
- Had 11 tackles against Florida
- Recorded at least five tackles in 10 of the 12 contests
Summary
Akins is an overlooked playmaker in the defensive backfield. While many will look at his size and count him out it is a mistake because Akins will come through and lay you out. Akins logged time at both CB and Safety while playing at EMCC. Smaller playmaking comparisons like Tyrann Mathieu, Budda Baker and others along those lines will be thrown out the player I see in him is Bobby McCain. McCain was a ballhawk while competing for the Memphis Tigers and that trait followed him to the Miami Dolphins. While a member of the Miami Dolphins McCain has started and played meaningful snaps as a CB, Nickelback and FS. I see Akins as a guy that will provide depth in the defensive backfield immediately. His skill set fits too well into today’s NFL for him to not get a shot. A word that is associated with his playstyle is feisty.
