Akeem Ayers
Encyclopedia
Akeem Christopher Ayers (born July 10, 1989) is an American football
linebacker
for the Tennessee Titans
of the National Football League
. He played for the UCLA Bruins
. He was a redshirt
junior and the starting outside linebacker. At the end of the 2010 season, he declared for the NFL draft.
in Watts, California. He won a CIF championship in high school.
and one against Temple
in the 2009 EagleBank Bowl
. The latter was the game-winning score of the bowl game and helped him earn him MVP honors. In a post-game interview, he admitted that he slipped, and was just trying to rush the passer on his game-changing play. As he got up, he saw the quarterback
looking to pass, jumped up, and pulled in the pass for an interception and score.
On September 18, 2010, Ayers had a key interception against No. 23 Houston Cougars
in UCLA's first win against a ranked opponent since 2008. The following week on on September 25, he played a key role in the Bruins' second upset against a ranked opponent with in a victory over No. 7 ranked Texas Longhorns
34–12 in front of more 101,000 fans in Austin, Texas
. Ayers had a key interception, seven tackles, a forced fumble and a sack. He was named Lott
IMPACT Player of the Week on September 27.
*Had two interceptions for touchdown and one fumble recovery for touchdown
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He played for the UCLA Bruins
UCLA Bruins Football
The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll...
. He was a redshirt
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
junior and the starting outside linebacker. At the end of the 2010 season, he declared for the NFL draft.
High school career
Ayers played at Verbum Dei High SchoolVerbum Dei High School
Verbum Dei High School, colloquially referred to as "the Verb", is an all-male Catholic high school combining college-preparatory academic courses and immersion in corporate work environments. It is operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles with the sponsorship of the of the...
in Watts, California. He won a CIF championship in high school.
College career
Ayers is known for his athletic interceptions for touchdowns, one in the 2009 season against Oregon2009 Oregon Ducks football team
The 2009 Oregon Ducks football team represented the University of Oregon in the college football season of 2009. The team was led by head coach Chip Kelly in his first season as a head coach at the Division I FBS level. Kelly was only the third Ducks head coach since 1977 and led the Ducks to a...
and one against Temple
2009 Temple Owls football team
The 2009 Temple Owls football team represented Temple University in the college 2009 football season. They competed in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision . Temple competed as a member of the Mid-American Conference East Division...
in the 2009 EagleBank Bowl
2009 EagleBank Bowl
The 2009 EagleBank Bowl was a college football bowl game. It marked the second edition of the EagleBank Bowl, played at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. The game, in which UCLA of the Pacific-10 Conference defeated Temple of the Mid-American Conference 30–21, started at 4:30 PM US EST on Tuesday,...
. The latter was the game-winning score of the bowl game and helped him earn him MVP honors. In a post-game interview, he admitted that he slipped, and was just trying to rush the passer on his game-changing play. As he got up, he saw the quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
looking to pass, jumped up, and pulled in the pass for an interception and score.
On September 18, 2010, Ayers had a key interception against No. 23 Houston Cougars
2010 Houston Cougars football team
The 2010 Houston Cougars football team represented the University of Houston in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the 65th year of season play for Houston...
in UCLA's first win against a ranked opponent since 2008. The following week on on September 25, he played a key role in the Bruins' second upset against a ranked opponent with in a victory over No. 7 ranked Texas Longhorns
2010 Texas Longhorns football team
The 2010 Texas Longhorn football team represented the University of Texas at Austin in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Mack Brown, who has a contract lasting through the 2016 season...
34–12 in front of more 101,000 fans in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. Ayers had a key interception, seven tackles, a forced fumble and a sack. He was named Lott
Lott Trophy
The Lott IMPACT Trophy is presented annually to the college football Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. IMPACT is an acronym for: integrity, maturity, performance, academics, community, and tenacity. The award purports to equally recognize the personal character of the winning player as well as...
IMPACT Player of the Week on September 27.
| Year | Total Tackles | Solo Tackles | Sacks | Tackles for Loss | Interceptions | DefTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 40 | 28 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 75 | 55 | 6 | 14.5 | 4 | 3* |
| 2010 | 68 | 45 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 0 |
| TOTALS | 183 | 128 | 14 | 29.5 | 6 | 3 |
*Had two interceptions for touchdown and one fumble recovery for touchdown