British O-lineman will ‘make OU proud’
Daniel Akinkunmi used to stroll into Southgate College in North London carrying massive lunch boxes filled with chicken and rice.
He transported the food three hours each morning by train from North England to stay on top of his diet and then carried them home each evening to be refilled the next day. When he arrived on campus in the mornings for the year in which he made that commute, the food was still hot.
Akinkunmi’s offensive line coach at the NFL Academy at Southgate, Gavin Collins, finally asked him one day, “How the hell do you heat this up?” There were no microwaves at the school.
It turns out Akinkunmi had searched online and bought a portable microwave, which he trekked on the trains each day to keep his food warm. Collins, a lover of food, had never heard of such a thing and was impressed.
That was the moment Collins knew Akinkunmi was as dedicated as any player who had come through the academy, which the NFL created in 2019 to expand the United States’ most popular sport internationally.
Fast forward a few years and Akinkunmi, who has only been playing offensive line for just over two years, has settled in at left guard for OU’s football team ahead of spring practice, which begins Monday. Not only does Akinkunmi stand out for his unorthodox path to playing major college football and being a British-born athlete playing in Oklahoma, but his drive — showcased by the six-hour-a-day commute he used to get here — is second to none.
With the Sooners’ offensive line depth depleted this offseason, Akinkunmi is the type of player who could turn heads with his preparation and maturity. As a 6-foot-4, 310-pound prospect, Akinkunmi jumped off the tape and shined at camps, piquing OU offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh’s interest and leading to an eventual bond between the two.
“What a tremendous addition to OU football,” said Lamonte Winston, the head of NFL Academy. “And from a person who used to scout that area for (Kansas City). I’ve been to that place many, many times and to many, many games on Saturday. So, I understand that tradition. We’re so proud. … He’ll make OU proud.”
Originally from East London, Akinkunmi and his mother moved to the northern region of England for a better living environment. When the opportunity to enroll at Southgate and train with college and NFL coaches arose, the then-15-year-old committed to meal prep, travel, go to class, lift, practice football, travel some more and then repeat the cycle every day.