Rams Select RB Cam Akers with No. 52 pick in NFL Draft

Cam Akers joins the Los Angeles Rams with their 52nd overall pick in the NFL Draft.

The Los Angeles Rams selected RB Cam Akers with the 52nd pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. Raised in Mississippi, Akers was a dual-threat quarterback and running back at Clinton High School in Clinton, MS. The numbers are video game-esque, as Akers racked up 13,243 all-purpose yards and 149 touchdowns with the Arrows. Akers closed out his outstanding high school career with 2,105 rushing yards (34 TD) and 3,128 passing yards (31 TD) in 2016. He was honored as the U.S. Army Player of the Year following his senior season.

A five-star prospect, Akers was recruited by several major programs, including Ohio State, LSU and Alabama. In the end, he committed to Florida State as a running back in 2016. SI Seminoles publisher David Vissser recently noted that Akers left Florida State in elite company: “Akers joined Warrick Dunn and Dalvin Cook as the only Seminoles to post multiple seasons with 1,000 rushing yards.” Akers exceeded that milestone mark during his freshman and junior seasons.

Akers began his collegiate career on a high note, breaking the Florida State freshman rushing yard record (1,025), which was previously held by Minnesota Vikings star tailback Dalvin Cook. He also had 116 receiving yards and eight total touchdowns. Akers’ yardage total dropped off during his sophomore season, as he posted 851 total yards with another eight total scores.

Despite a disappointing 6-7 season for the Seminoles, Akers still excelled with a second straight 1,000-plus yard campaign. All career highs, Akers posted 1,144 rushing yards and 14 TD plus 225 passing yards and four TDs in 2019. He held the distinction of being just one of seven players nationally with three touchdowns in three or more games in 2019. The one major issue appears to be ball security, as the skilled running back fumbled 10 times over three seasons.

2019 stats (Junior; Florida State): 1,144 receiving yards, 14 TD, 225 rush yards, 4 TD (11 games)

2018 stats (Sophomore; Florida State): 706 receiving yards, 6 TD, 145 rush yards, 2 TD (12 games)

2017 stats (Freshman; Florida State): 1,025 receiving yards, 7 TD, 116 rush yards, 1 TD (13 games)

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Bill Enright
BILL ENRIGHT

Bill Enright is the Managing Editor of Sports Illustrated's Sports Betting and Fantasy division. He's an award winning fantasy football analyst and has a winning betting record on NFL Player Props since 2017. Follow Bill on Twitter: @BillEnright