SouthernWorldwide.com – In a remarkable turn of events, former Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jordyn Adams is set to embark on a new athletic chapter by playing college football for SMU, despite being 26 years old.
This move highlights a growing trend of professional athletes returning to the collegiate level to pursue different sporting passions.
Adams was a highly touted recruit in the 2018 class, recognized as one of the top wide receivers. He had initially committed to North Carolina to compete in both baseball and football.
However, his path diverged when the Los Angeles Angels drafted him 17th overall in the 2018 MLB draft, offering a substantial signing bonus.
As a five-star prospect, Adams was expected to make significant contributions at North Carolina, but the allure of a professional baseball career took precedence.
The lucrative offer from Major League Baseball ultimately steered his career in a different direction.
After beginning his professional journey with the Angels, Jordyn Adams made his MLB debut in 2023.
He played in 17 games during that season and an additional 11 games in 2024, moving between various minor league teams.
Adams concluded his baseball career just two weeks ago, having played his final minor league game.
During his MLB tenure, he recorded 13 hits, but his professional baseball career did not reach the heights anticipated, despite hitting 55 home runs in the minor leagues.
Now, following a path similar to other athletes like Monte Harrison, who joined Arkansas for college football, Jordyn Adams will finally don football pads in a collegiate setting.
Adams recently signed with the SMU Mustangs, where he is slated to play wide receiver this fall.
The success he might achieve in this new role remains to be seen, but the opportunity to pursue football at the college level has clearly been on his mind.
This transition is permissible under NCAA regulations as Adams never formally attended college or began his collegiate eligibility clock.
The timing of his enrollment at SMU is particularly noteworthy, as the NCAA is reportedly considering a new “5 in 5” rule.
Under this potential rule, an athlete’s eligibility clock would start upon high school graduation or reaching the age of 19.
It is unlikely that this new rule would affect Adams, given his unique circumstances.
Furthermore, SMU would likely not invest in a player who could face ineligibility, making this decision mutually beneficial.
Since Adams never enrolled at North Carolina in 2018, he technically still has years of eligibility remaining for college football.
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While he may be older than the typical college freshman, the upcoming season will reveal if Jordyn Adams can still make a significant impact on the football field.
