Jordyn Adams, once a highly touted football recruit who pledged to the University of North Carolina, has taken a surprising turn toward the gridiron after a three‑year odyssey in Major League Baseball, spending time with both the Los Angeles Angels and the Baltimore Orioles.
During his MLB tenure he posted a modest .165 batting average across 38 games, but his minor‑league résumé reveals a more durable hitter: a .245 career average, 612 hits, 386 runs, 55 home runs and 304 RBI over nine seasons in the minors.
A Unusual Career Pivot
Now enrolled at Southern Methodist University in Texas, Adams will attempt to resurrect his football career at the collegiate level, a move that could see him become one of the oldest rookies in NFL history if he eventually makes the professional leap.
His decision is not isolated; former NBA G‑League forward Charles Bediako recently made a similar return to college basketball, while baseball legend Michael Jordan once swapped the hardwood for the diamond after turning professional.
The shift reflects broader changes in college athletics, where athletes increasingly explore multi‑sport or multi‑career pathways, blurring the lines between amateur and professional development, and future matchups between UNC and SMU remain a possibility.