Foreign OT Daniel Akinkunmi talks upcoming visits, commitment timeline

He may not be in the United States yet, but London NFL Academy three-star offensive tackle Daniel Akinkunmi has big plans for his football career. Becoming “the greatest offensive lineman ever” and a “Hall of Famer in the NFL” are just two of the Loughborough, England native’s many goals.

The next step in achieving those goals is making the move across the pond to play college football. While he may be just a three-star now, the recruitment of the 6-foot-5, 305-pounder continues to pick up steam. He now hold official offers from over 10 Power 5 programs, including the likes of Clemson, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Miami.

Making a college decision is often strenuous for most prospects, but the challenge is even greater when you’re being recruited by schools in another country. Akinkunmi broke down his football journey, coming to America to take official visits this fall and more in an interview with OU Insider.

Akinkunmi looking for home away from home

Akinkunmi is still a newcomer to football. He’s well aware that he might be a step behind when it comes to X’s and O’s compared to the average recruit. Because of that, he’s after a program that’s willing to make that extra commitment to help him become the best football player he can be.

“I think a massive value for me will be for me to be able to have a coaching staff that’s willing to put time into me,” Akinkunmi said. “I feel like I want to go to a program that’s not going to rush my development and try and just help me, because i’m dedicated, i’m obsessed with the sport.”

Another major factor in his recruitment will be finding his home away from home. Getting back to England at the drop of a hat isn’t exactly an option for Akinkunmi, so experiencing that family feel is going to be of the utmost importance.

“I definitely want a school that feels like home, in terms of environment, because I can’t just go home,” he said. “I’m not just an hour away … i’m probably a 6-10 hour flight away from home … I need to make sure I go to a place where I love the environment, it feels like home and just feels like a family.”

Upcoming visits, commitment timeline for Akinkunmi

Akinkunmi took his first official visit in June to Baylor. The Bears have been a mainstay in his recruitment before other high-profile programs entered the fold. Now, a jam-packed September awaits, with aimed visits to Oklahoma, Clemson and Ole Miss.

First up is Norman and the Sooners, a team that has began gaining some traction with the lineman. He’ll visit for the first week of the college football season as OU takes on Arkansas State. The On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM) has Oklahoma as the favorite to land Akinkunmi ahead of his busy month.

“Their ability to want to create a relationship. Coach Brent Venables and Coach (Bill) Bedenbaugh’s calling me all the time … I feel like they really want to build a connection with you as a person,” Akinkunmi said of Oklahoma. “They already know i’ve not played football for long, so they’re just trying to teach me the game as I go, making sure I know certain things … small things like that really help.”

Nothing is concrete, but Akinkunmi’s plans are to take in his visits throughout the month, then return home to England and eventually “make a decision in October.” He is the No. 661 overall prospect and No. 45 OT in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.