Honors & Awards
» Allstate AFCA Good Works Team (2018)
» Academic All-Big Ten (2015, 2016)
» Big Ten All-Freshman Team (BTN.com, ESPN.com)
» Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall 2014; Spring 2015, 2018)
» Nebraska Heart & Soul Award (2019)
» Nebraska Student-Athlete HERO Leadership Award (2015, 2016)
» Brook Berringer Citizenship Team (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
» Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
2018 (Senior)
Freedom Akinmoladun started all 12 games at defensive end for Nebraska in 2018, ending his career with 41 career starts, including each of his final 37 games. Akinmoladun totaled 29 tackles, three TFLs and 2.5 sacks in his senior season, while adding four quarterback hurries.
Akinmoladun began his senior season with a four-tackle performance against Colorado in his 30th career start that included two tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. The two TFLs tied his career high while the 1.5 sacks were more than he had in all of 2017. He added another sack against Troy, giving him a sack in back-to-back games for the first time since his redshirt freshman season. Akinmoladun had one tackle in each of Nebraska's first two Big Ten games at No. 19 Michigan and at home vs. Purdue. At No. 16 Wisconsin, Akinmoladun posted a season-high five tackles, one shy of his career high. He had two tackles at Northwestern the next week and made four tackles in the Huskers' win over Minnesota. Akinmoladun recorded two tackles against Ohio State, Illinois and Michigan State. In his final game at Iowa, Akinmoladun had three solo tackles.
Off the field, Akinmoladun was one of 11 FBS players named to the 2018 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. He was the first Husker to earn the honor since 2013.
2017 (Junior)
Akinmoladun started all 12 games at defensive end in the Huskers’ 3-4 scheme. He finished the year with 24 tackles, 1.0 sack and two tackles for loss. He recorded multiple tackles seven times and ended his junior campaign with a season-high five stops against Iowa.
Akinmoladun had two tackles, a quarterback hurry and his first career pass breakup in the season opener against Arkansas State. Two weeks later against Northern Illinois, he posted a season-high three solo tackles, finishing with four total tackles. He had his first sack and tackle for loss of the season in the Huskers’ win at Illinois and then combined for six tackles in Nebraska’s back-to-back games against top-10 opponents Wisconsin and Ohio State. Akinmoladun added his second career pass breakup in the Huskers’ come-from-behind win at Purdue before ending his year on a strong note with five tackles and a tackle for loss against Iowa.
2016 (Sophomore)
Akinmoladun started all 13 games at the defensive end spot. He made 32 overall tackles, including five tackles for loss. His four sacks were tied for second on the team. Akinmoladun also led the defense with 10 quarterback hurries. He had five games with four or more tackles.
Akinmoladun had five tackles, including four solo stops, in a win over Oregon. He also had a sack and a forced fumble against the Ducks. He recorded his second sack of the season against Illinois. Akinmoladun had five tackles at Ohio State and made four tackles, including a tackle for loss in the win over Minnesota. He had five tackles and a career-high two sacks for 15 yards in the home finale against Maryland. Akinmoladun also had two hurries against the Terrapins. He closed the year with four tackles and a hurry against Tennessee.
2015 (Redshirt Freshman)
Akinmoladun played in 11 games and made four starts at the defensive end position. He was one of four ends in the regular rotation and finished the year with 21 tackles. He had a team-high 4.5 sacks, tied for second on the team with seven tackles for loss and had four quarterback hurries.
Akinmoladun opened the year with a sack against BYU, then added two tackles for loss a week later against South Alabama. He had a career-high six tackles at Miami, including five solo stops, and registered a 12-yard sack against the Hurricanes. He closed non-conference play with four tackles, including two sacks for 17 yards in a win over Southern Miss. His sack on the game’s final play secured the Husker victory.
Akinmoladun opened Big Ten play with two tackles and a half-sack at Illinois, before missing the next two games with a knee injury. He added two tackles each against Northwestern and Purdue.
2014 (Redshirt)
Akinmoladun redshirted in his first season at Nebraska in 2014, and spent the majority of his time working at tight end.
Before Nebraska (Grandview HS)
Akinmoladun earned second-team Class 4 all-state honors from the Missouri Football Coaches Association during his senior season at Grandview High School. He caught 23 passes for 387 yards and two touchdowns, while also recording 26 tackles and five tackles for loss from his defensive end position. Akinmoladun helped Coach Andy Leech’s team to a 5-6 record and a trip to the second round of the Class 4 playoffs.
In 2012, Akinmoladun caught 14 passes for 331 yards and a touchdown, and also made a big impact on defense with 85 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and four sacks. Akinmoladun earned third-team all-state honors as a sophomore.
Akinmoladun was ranked as one of the top 30 tight ends in the nation and among the top 15 players in Missouri according to both Rivals.com and 247 Sports. Akinmoladun was also one of the top rebounders for the Grandview basketball team. Akinmoladun only visited Nebraska after his commitment, but also had offers from Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kansas State and Northern Illinois.
Personal
Akinmoladun was born on Feb. 11, 1996, and is the son of Sherryee Akinmoladun. He completed his degree work in psychology in May and is a three-time member of the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll.
He also has distinguished himself in the community, earning spots on the Brook Berringer and Tom Osborne Citizenship Teams in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 for his outreach work, while also earning Nebraska Student-Athlete HERO Leadership Awards in 2015 and 2016. Akinmoladun spent a week in May of 2018 in Panama as part of Nebraska’s No Filter Outreach trip.
He has also volunteered his time with Uplifting Athletes, School is Cool, NFL Fuel Up to Play 60, Husker Heroes, Husker Hotline, and local school, hospital and community center outreach visits. Akinmoladun’s cousin, Oladapo, was an All-American on the Nebraska track and field team from 2013 to 2016.