NFL Academy athlete Daniel Akinkunmi has become the latest exciting talent to graduate from the program and set to join a Division 1 US college, committing to Big 12 Conference team, the University of Oklahoma.
Born in London to Nigerian parents, Akinkumni has been a member of the NFL Academy since the summer of 2021. He is a versatile offensive lineman, capable of playing all five positions on the line.
Akinkunmi has been a starter on the offensive line since joining the NFL Academy. He has toured thrice with the NFL Academy for camps in the United States. This exposure has resulted in him receiving over 35 Division 1 scholarship offers.
The NFL Academy, which commenced in September 2019, is a significant endeavor by the NFL. It is an exclusive player pathway program that aspires to leverage football to generate transformative opportunities for youth globally.
The announcement underscores the continued success of the NFL Academy, presently aiding 62 student athletes from 13 diverse countries, namely, the UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Czech Republic, Austria, Belgium, Nigeria, Ireland, and Senegal. Since its establishment, the Academy has assisted over 40 students in acquiring college football scholarships in the US. Additionally, 15 NFL Academy graduates are slated to participate in NCAA football in the academic year 2023-24.
“The NFL Academy and Loughborough have been life changing – from teaching me the game of football, to important lessons off the field, they have given me some of my best memories,” said Akinkunmi. “During my official visit I watched the Oklahoma vs Arkansas State game, my first college football gameday experience, and it showed me how much this team has improved and how badly they want to win. I wanted to be part of a program that has a culture of winning and the University of Oklahoma is that place. Coach Brent Venables has positively impacted so many players and when we spoke, it didn’t feel like a pitch, it felt like a man-to-man talk. It was the most real conversation I had during my recruiting journey. The future is very bright for me, and the goal is to be a true freshman and to have as big of an impact on the team as possible.”
“This is another proud day for the NFL Academy as Daniel commits to a great program and the entire team could not be happier for him,” said Steve Hagen, Head Coach of the NFL Academy. “Daniel quickly became a leader at the NFL Academy, and he will continue to be a role model and inspiration for those around him. The NFL Academy provides life changing opportunities for talented young athletes from around the world to excel both in education and elite sport performance and Daniel is an example of this program. He leaves a better athlete and a better man. We wish him well at Oklahoma and in the years to come.”
The NFL Academy provides a route for skilled student athletes aged 16-19 to merge their full-time education with an intensive sports training and transformative life skills program. This is carried out under the supervision of a professional coaching team in a top-tier sports environment.
This programme, located at the globally recognised Loughborough sporting excellence centre in the UK and in collaboration with Loughborough College and Loughborough University, advocates for top-tier performance and the advancement of elite player pathways. It supports student athletes with the best practices and resources from the NFL.
To find out more about the programme, please visit here.
