May 2, 2015
Chicago, Ill.----- Safety Akeem King was the one San Jose State University football player selected in the 2015 NFL Draft when he was named by the Atlanta Falcons in the seventh round as the 249th overall selection.
The 6-foot-1, 215-pound King definitely caught the attention of the scouts in attendance at the March 18 San Jose State Pro Day with a 40-yard dash time of 4.35 according to one scout's watch and a 37.5 vertical leap.
A player who improved in each of his five seasons at the college level, King first became a starter in 2014. He was one of three Spartans on defense to start in all 12 games and was fourth on the squad with 71 tackles. King was credited with his single-game personal best of 11 tackles in the November 21, 2014 game at Utah State.
In 2014, he was part of the San José State defensive secondary that led the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) in fewest passing yards allowed per game (117.8) and was 12th nationally in team passing efficiency defense (108.12 rating).
Originally recruited as a wide receiver who averaged 29.0 yards per catch from Nipomo (Calif.) High, he redshirted the 2010 season. In 2011, he was moved to the defensive secondary and appeared in two late-season games as a special teams defender. Remaining a special teams player, his game count increased to eight in 2012.
It wasn't until the 2013 season that he saw action as a defensive back. He accounted for nine of his 15 tackles for the year in the final three games and was credited with two pass break-ups in the Spartans' 62-52 season-finale win over #16-ranked Fresno State, which came into game unbeaten with current Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr.
King graduated in May 2014 majoring in business marketing. He was a three-time academic all-conference honoree (Western Athletic Conference in 2012 and Mountain West in 2013 and 2014).
He is the second San Jose State defensive back selected by the Falcons in the last six years. In 2009, Atlanta chose cornerback Christopher Owens in the third round and as the 90th overall pick.