Samuel Akem

Photo by: Derek Johnson

Class:
Redshirt Senior
Height:
6-4
Weight:
210
Position:
WR
Hometown:
Broken Arrow, Okla.
High School:
Broken Arrow HS

2020-21 (R-Sr.):
• Terry Dillon Award winner for the team's outstanding back or receiver
• Preseason All-Big Sky
• Phil Steele Preseason 1st-team All-Big Sky
• HERO Sports Preseason All-Big Sky
Akem finished his illustrious career at Montana as the only wide receiver in program history to finish among the top five in all three major receiving categories at UM: career pass receptions, total receiving yards, and total touchdown catches. The two-time All-Big Sky pick totaled 191 catches in his career (third all-time) for 2,711 yards (fourth all-time), and tied Marc Mariani’s school record with 29 career touchdown catches. He finished his career with two or more touchdown catches in seven different games, including five catches for a season-high 104 yards and two TDs in Montana’s 57-41 playoff win over Eastern Washington in 2021. Following his senior season, he was named the team’s Terry Dillon Award winner for outstanding back or receiver for the second time in his career.

2019 (R-Jr.):
• Second-team All-Big Sky
• HERO Sports Preseason All-American
• Preseason All-Big Sky Conference
Akem was on-par for another stellar season with 59 catches for 848 yards and five TDs in 10 games before suffering season-ending injury… Posted three games with 100-plus yards and two more with 97-plus yards… Started the season strong with a career-high 158 yards and a TD on nine catches at South Dakota… Also posed 135 yards against Idaho State on a career-high 10 catches and 104 yards on just three grabs with a career-long TD of 76 yards… Selected second-team all-conference despite not finishing the season.

2018 (R-So.):
• HERO Sports Sophomore All-American
• Second-team All-Big Sky Conference
• Phil Steele Sophomore All-American
• Phil Steele third-team All-Big Sky
• Terry Dillon Award winner for the team's outstanding back or receiver
• Finished the season with 13 touchdown catches (No. 1 in the Big Sky, No. 6 in the nation)
Caught three passes for 51 yards in the Griz Spring Game ... In the first game of the 2018 season (UNI, 9/1), Akem recorded three catches for 52 yards with a long of 29 yards ... Had a breakout performance vs. Drake with 86 yards on eight catches with one touchdown ... Akem seven receptions for 64 yards and two TDs on the day at Western Illinois (9/15) ... Had another big day against Cal Poly (9/29) with a career-high 93 receiving yards including a 54-yard touchdown reception on 5 catches ... Posted a career day at North Dakota (10/13) with 124 receiving yards on 8 receptions, with a long of 68 yards (career-long), with two touchdowns ... Akem had himself another big day against #6 UC Davis (10/27) with 9 receptions (career-high) for 75 yards and two touchdowns on the day ... Put up another impressive performance with 89 receiving yards on 5 catches along with 2 touchdowns at Southern Utah (11/3) ... Akem did his thing once again with 130 receiving yards on just 6 catches that included 2 receptions for TDs ... Finished the season with another explosive performance against rival Montana State (11/17), putting up 147 yards (career-high) on 6 receptions along with one touchdown ... Akem's 13 TD catches were the fifth-most in a single season in Grizzly history, tied with legends like Marc Mariani, Marvin Turk, and Mike Rice.

2017 (R-Fr.): Played in all 11 games and got his first start at Portland State … Caught 18 passes for 207 yards and a pair of touchdowns … Caught three catches in two games … Had a career-high 45 yards at Idaho State with a career-long catch of 41 yards, which was a touchdown … Averaged 18.8 yards per-game

2016 (Fr.): Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year … Redshirted in 2016

High School: Akem lettered in both football and track and field at Broken Arrow HS in Broken Arrow, Okla., where he played football for Coach David Alexander…his senior year he was captain of his football team and All-District…his 2013 track and field team was the Oklahoma state champions…2015 football team were district champions.

Personal: He is a Psychology major at UM…his parents are Ina Jones and Isaac Akem of Broken Arrow… Older brother Gyasi Akem played linebacker at Oklahoma State from 2014-17.