It’s rare to see a first-round pick returning to college in a different sport, but that’s what former MLB player Jordyn Adams has decided to do. According to Billy Embody, Adams has enrolled at SMU to play football.
The 26-year-old was picked 17th overall by the Los Angeles Angels in the 2018 MLB draft. He chose to sign with the Angels despite being a four-star wide receiver in the 2018 recruiting class.
Fans reacted to this development with a wide range of reactions.
“This is ridiculous! Next thing you know we will have nba draft picks playing college basketball!!” one fan believes Adams has set a wrong precedent.
“This is ridiculous. At what point does “amateur sports” not mean anything? …and don’t comment, “they aren’t amateurs; they’re getting paid.” That’s like saying the kid down the street who cuts your lawn for a few bucks is a professional landscaper,” another wrote.
“Indiana at it agai… wait, sorry, that’s SMU adding a real 26 year old to their roster that Indiana had 0 of on its National Title team,” another added.
“At least this has always happened in baseball,” one fan commented.
“He should’ve been a dual sport college athlete instead of going to the MLB,” one fan wrote.
“brother start a family,” one fan joked.
Jordyn Adams Leaves MLB Future To Play College Football at SMU
Jordyn Adams played both sports while attending Green Hope High School in Cary, North Carolina. He also played in the Under Armour All-America Baseball Game. He was part of the 2018 recruiting class, even hailed as the third-best receiver after future NFL stars, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Ja’Marr Chase.
However, after the Angels selected him in the 2018 MLB draft, he walked back on his commitment to North Carolina and turned pro. Since 2018, he played for various minor league organizations of the Angels and even made his MLB debut against the Atlanta Braves in Aug. 2023. However, he couldn’t solidify his position as the Angels non-tendered him in Nov. 2024.
The following month, the Baltimore Orioles signed him to a minor league contract and he even made five appearances for them in the MLB regular season. In Sept. 2025, he chose to become a free agent again. Earlier in Feb., he was signed to a minor league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers. He last played in a minor league baseball game on May 20 with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds.
Rather than continuing his MLB career, where he has faced hardship in making the active roster, Adams is once again returning to football, where many expected him to make the NFL had he opted to play college football.
Adams’ eligibility isn’t in question under NCAA rules as he never enrolled in college and was drafted straight out of high school.
Adams is not the only one to pursue such an avenue. Before him, former MLB outfielder Monte Harrison joined Arkansas in 2023 after a decade in baseball. Moreover, former first-round baseball draft pick Brandon Weeden played for years in the minor leagues before becoming the starting quarterback of Oklahoma State in 2010. Another example, Chris Weinke played six professional baseball seasons before enrolling at Florida State. He also won the Heisman Trophy in 2000 at age 28.
So, while it is rare, there have been other players who have done the same thing Adams is pursuing.
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