| Born: | May 10, 1977 Starkville, Mississippi, US |
|---|---|
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | WR, SB |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
| Weight | 181 lb (82 kg) |
| College | Northeast Louisiana |
| High school | Starkville HS |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1999 | Buffalo Bills* |
| 1999–2003 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
| *Off-season and/or practice squad only. | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Anthony Royell Akins (born May 10, 1977) is a former Canadian football wide receiver and slotback who played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1999 to 2003. He played in 61 regular season games, catching 121 receptions for 2,138 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also returned punts and kickoffs. Akins is a Grey Cup champion.
Akins played high school football at Starkville High School before playing at East Mississippi Community College. He later transferred to Eastern Louisiana University and played for the Warhawks. After going unselected in the 1999 NFL draft, Akins was signed by the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League but was cut before the beginning of the regular season. He was signed by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats shortly after and spent his first two seasons moving between the practice squad and the active roster, playing in 9 games each season and contributing heavily on special teams. Akins transitioned to a more offensive role in 2001, but his career was interrupted in later seasons by repeated injuries.