Former MLB Player Jordyn Adams Returns to Football at 26

Sometimes the path we choose isn't the one we're meant to stay on forever.

Jordyn Adams was one of the nation's top wide receiver prospects in 2018, a five-star talent who committed to play both baseball and football at North Carolina. Then the Los Angeles Angels drafted him 17th overall with a signing bonus too good to pass up, and his football dreams went on hold.

Now, at 26, Adams is finally putting on the pads.

The former outfielder signed with SMU last week to play wide receiver this fall. His professional baseball career wrapped up two weeks ago after brief stints in the majors with the Angels, playing just 28 total games at the highest level. He hit 55 home runs in the minors but never quite found his footing in the big leagues.

Adams gets this rare opportunity because he never enrolled in college or started his eligibility clock. Under current NCAA rules, he still has years of college eligibility remaining since he went straight to pro baseball after high school.

The timing matters too. The NCAA is preparing to pass a "5 in 5" rule that would start an athlete's eligibility clock when they graduate high school or turn 19. Adams needed to enroll now to preserve his chance.

Why This Inspires

Adams's story challenges the idea that choosing one path means closing doors forever. He spent seven years chasing a baseball dream that didn't pan out the way he hoped, and now he's brave enough to try something new.

He's also not alone in this journey. Monte Harrison recently made a similar leap, joining Arkansas football at 30 after a decade-long MLB career. These athletes are proving that second chances exist, even when conventional wisdom says you've aged out.

SMU is getting a player who knows what it means to compete at the highest level, someone who's experienced both success and setbacks. Adams understands now what he might not have at 18: that opportunity is precious, and passion matters more than a perfect timeline.

At 26, Jordyn Adams is finally becoming a college freshman, ready to find out if his football dreams were worth the wait.