By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Jaelon Acklin could have quit and no one would’ve blamed him.
Transfer back home to Southwest Missouri to a D-2 or NAIA program, reclaim the cult-like following of “Jaelon Football” and leave behind the harsh winters and six hour drive from Macomb to Mountain View.
After all, this is Jaelon Acklin we’re talking about, right?
The same kid that racked up more than 9,000 yards from scrimmage with 139 touchdowns in high school.
The same kid that scored more than 1,500 points as a four-year letterman in basketball.
The same kid that won the Class 2 110M hurdle state championship as a senior.
Sitting wasn’t in Acklin’s DNA…
And it seemed like that wouldn’t be the case at Western Illinois, one of two FCS programs that happened to find film of the Mountain View-Birch Tree Liberty High School star and offer him a scholarship as a receiver.
Acklin skipped a redshirt year and found his way onto the field in Western Illinois third game of the 2014 season at Northwestern, even recording the first catch of his college career against the Big 10 Wildcats.
Then came the very sobering realization of every student-athlete’s freshman year; everyone in college is good.
“The adjustment was hard,” said Acklin. “Each year I kind of had a different role on the team, and I was in a rough place being behind Lance Lenoir and Joey Borsellino. I knew what I could do, it’s just hard having opportunities to show it when you have two great players who have already proved themselves. But I just had to remind myself that God has a plan for me, and I’m going to grow up and be the best player that I can be and take advantage of any opportunity I do get while I’m at Western.”
So, for three years Acklin watched as Lenoir and Borsellino rewrote the WIU receiving record book. The duo finished their career first and second respectively in receptions and first and third in yards. Acklin recorded just 21 receptions in that time, starting just six games.
In the landscape of today’s collegiate athletics, many guys in Acklin’s position would have transferred; why sit when you can play immediately?
But, that’s not quite how he’s wired.
Transferring would be giving into the narrative that he wasn’t really a Division One player. That he couldn’t hack it at Western Illinois. Transferring would’ve been nearly the same as quitting and quitting isn’t really an option.
After watching his mother, Tina, battle breast cancer for the majority of his high school career, Acklin gained a different perspective on the difference between quitting and persevering.
“Seeing my Mom battling cancer through my high school years definitely humbled me and made me stop taking so many things for granted,” said Acklin. “I can’t ever go and complain to my mom about practice or how coach is getting on to me because she fought and won one of the toughest obstacles you can battle.
“I wanted to prove people wrong. Nobody really ever thought that I would do anything in college, and Western was the only school that gave me a chance. So I not only owed it to the university, but my teammates, to stay and be the best player that I could be.”
So, Acklin found his grind.
The Dr. Pepper and fast food junkie gave up both, which meant no more No. 4’s from McDonalds. It also meant less ice cream, Chinese food and Los Amigos.
Acklin also took up cooking his own meals, which he promises are edible, and began limiting his carb intake.
“It was pretty hard at first. I never watched what I ate in high school and I drank a ton of soda; probably enough Dr. Pepper to fill the Mississippi River,” said Acklin. “I just had to learn how to cook. I can make chicken teriyaki, turkey burgers, pork loin, salmon, anything really. I just have to FaceTime my mom and ask her how.”
The rededication to his body resulted in Acklin losing 10% body fat, which made the 6-foot-2 receiver both quicker and faster, which has shown on the field.
Acklin set school records for receptions (19) and receiving yards (343) in a 38-33 loss to No. 10 South Dakota on Saturday, earning him every possible Player of the Week honor.
He had been averaging more than 100 yards per game from scrimmage with four total touchdowns in his first three games entering Saturday. His record-setting game now has him top five in receptions per game, receiving yards and total touchdowns.
His 172 all-purpose yards per games ranks No. 3 in the FCS.
Saturday’s explosion even prompted Lenoir, a rookie for the Dallas Cowboys, to politely ask Acklin to stop breaking his records.
Currently, he’s on pace for 91 receptions for 1,606 yards and 14 touchdowns; all of those would be Western Illinois records. Two of which are currently held by Lenoir.
Acklin maintains that he is focused on winning and doing his part to help his team reach the FCS Playoffs, which in the loaded Missouri Valley Football Conference is no easy task.
On Oct. 14, that journey will hit a little closer to home when Missouri State visits Macomb.
The Bears are one of two FCS programs in Missouri that didn’t offer Acklin. While there’s no ill will, he hasn’t necessarily forgotten the snub either.
“It hurt a lot,” said Acklin. “I would always go to Missouri State games as I kid and I dreamed of playing there; I always liked Springfield and the atmosphere. But then to have them pretty much say that I’m not good enough to play there, made it hurt even more. But that’s part of life.
“Now I go into practice and weights everyday thinking about that and using it as motivation. It’s more of a personal thing for me being from the area. Obviously that was all before coach Stec and his staff got there, so I have nothing but respect for him and the MSU bears football program. But it is nice to have a little extra motivation.”
Further motivation lies in his future.
Acklin is pursuing a Psychology degree with a minor in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration, but his future career may be put on hold if his current production continues.
Carson Wentz, David Johnson, Dylan Cole and Lance Lenoir are just a few Missouri Valley Football Conference alums that have found roster spots in the NFL. In fact, nine MVFC players have been drafted in the last three years.
Playing on Sundays is still a goal, but Acklin is just worried about what’s in front of him.
“Playing in the NFL is every kid’s dream,” said Acklin. “Watching Dylan Cole and seeing his success makes you believe even more. But I try not to think about it too much right now. Right now my number one goal is to win a championship, and be the best teammate I can be to accomplish that. Once my college football career is over I’ll start to focus more on what I will do afterwards.”
Acklin and the No. 18 Leathernecks will visit No. 21 Northern Iowa on Saturday. That game can be seen on ESPN3.
