Freedom Akinmoladun

Freedom Akinmoladun
refer to caption
Akinmoladun with the St. Louis BattleHawks in 2023
No. 98 – St. Louis Battlehawks
Position:Defensive end
Personal information
Born: (1996-02-11) February 11, 1996 (age 28)
Grandview, Missouri, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:286 lb (130 kg)
Career information
High school:Grandview
(Grandview, Missouri)
College:Nebraska
Undrafted:2019
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career NFL statistics
Games played:4
Total tackles:2
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Freedom Akinmoladun (born February 11, 1996) is an American football defensive end for the St. Louis BattleHawks of the United Football League (UFL). He was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2019 following his college football career with the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Professional career

New York Giants

Akinmoladun signed with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent following the 2019 NFL draft on May 14, 2019.[1] He was waived during final roster cuts on August 31, 2019,[2] and signed to the team's practice squad the next day.[3] He was released on November 12, 2019.[4]

Cincinnati Bengals

Akinmoladun signed to the Cincinnati Bengals' practice squad on November 19, 2019.[5] He was promoted to the active roster on December 14, 2019.[6] He appeared in two games for the Bengals in the 2019 season, Weeks 16 and 17.[7]

Akinmoladun was waived during final roster cuts on September 5, 2020,[8] and signed to the team's practice squad the next day.[9] He was elevated to the team's active roster on September 17 for the team's week 2 game against the Cleveland Browns and reverted to the practice squad the next day.[10] He was elevated again to the team's active roster on October 3 for the week 4 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and reverted to the practice squad after the game.[11] He was placed on the practice squad/COVID-19 list by the team on November 18, 2020,[12] and restored to the practice squad on December 2.[13] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 4, 2021.[14] He was waived on August 22, 2021.[15]

Tennessee Titans

On August 24, 2021, Akinmoladun was claimed off waivers by the Tennessee Titans.[16] He was waived on August 29, 2021.[17]

New York Jets

On December 21, 2021, Akinmoladun was signed to the New York Jets practice squad.[18] He appeared in one game, which was Week 16 against the Jaguars, for the Jets in the 2021 season.[19]

Philadelphia Stars

Akinmoladun was selected with the sixth pick of the second round of the 2022 USFL draft by the Philadelphia Stars.[20]

St. Louis BattleHawks

The St. Louis BattleHawks selected Akinmoladun in the first round of the 2023 XFL Supplemental Draft on January 1, 2023.[21] He re-signed with the team on January 31, 2024.[22]

Personal life

Freedom's older brother, Olu'Kayode Akinmoladun, played college football at Nebraska–Kearney before going on to play professionally for various indoor football teams, including the Green Bay Blizzard, Texas Revolution, and Omaha Beef; additionally, Freedom's younger brother, Justice Akinmoladun, was playing college football at Washburn as of 2022.[23]

References

  1. ^ Schwartz, Paul (May 14, 2019). "Giants shuffle roster, add Nebraska defensive end Freedom Akinmoladun". NYPost.com. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  2. ^ Eisen, Michael (August 31, 2019). "New York Giants announce 53-man roster". Giants.com. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  3. ^ Eisen, Michael (September 1, 2019). "Giants place CB Sam Beal on IR, sign TE Eric Tomlinson and 8 to practice squad". Giants.com. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  4. ^ Eisen, Michael (November 12, 2019). "TE Scott Simonson re-joins Giants". Giants.com. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  5. ^ "Bengals Sign Akinmoladun And Thompson To Practice Squad". Bengals.com. November 19, 2019. Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  6. ^ "Bengals Sign Akinmoladun To Roster, Place Wren On Reserve/Injured". Bengals.com. December 14, 2019. Archived from the original on September 28, 2020. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  7. ^ "Freedom Akinmoladun 2019 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  8. ^ "Bengals Reduce 2020 Roster To 53 Players". Bengals.com. September 5, 2020. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  9. ^ "Bengals Establish Practice Squad". Bengals.com. September 6, 2020. Archived from the original on September 29, 2020. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  10. ^ "Akinmoladun; Henderson Elevated To Active Roster". Bengals.com. September 17, 2020. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  11. ^ "Bengals Make Four Player Moves Ahead Of Week 4 Matchup Versus Jacksonville". Bengals.com. October 3, 2020. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  12. ^ "Bengals Make Midweek Player Moves". Bengals.com. November 18, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  13. ^ Alper, Josh (December 2, 2020). "Bengals activate Xavier Su'a-Filo, put Auden Tate on IR". NBC Sports. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  14. ^ "Bengals Sign 10 Players To Reserve/Future Contracts". Bengals.com. January 4, 2021. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  15. ^ "Bengals Make Roster Moves Ahead Of Third Preseason Game". Bengals.com. August 22, 2021. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  16. ^ Wyatt, Jim (August 23, 2021). "Titans Claim Former Bengals DL Freedom Akinmoladun off waivers". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  17. ^ Wyatt, Jim (August 29, 2021). "Roster Moves: Titans Part Ways With Five Players While Placing One on Injured Reserve, Another on Reserve/COVID-19 List". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  18. ^ Greenberg, Ethan (December 21, 2021). "Jets Place TE Ryan Griffin on Injured Reserve, Activate QB Mike White". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  19. ^ "Freedom Akinmoladun 2021 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  20. ^ "Three Huskers Selected in USFL Draft". Nebraska Cornhuskers. February 23, 2022. Archived from the original on February 27, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  21. ^ "Supplemental Draft Picks 2023". XFL.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  22. ^ "UFL Player Transactions – Wednesday January 31, 2024". UFLBoard.com. January 31, 2024. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  23. ^ Goodwin, Max (January 23, 2022). "Professional Indoor Football Champion Honored at Grandview Aldermen Meeting". Martin City Telegraph. Retrieved January 19, 2024.