The Memphis Showboats re-signed defensive end John Atkins for the 2024 season on Wednesday.
John Atkins is six foot three and weighs 320 pounds. The 30-year-old from Thomson, Georgia, made 29 tackles (13 solo, 16 assists), four tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and seven pass breakups in ten games for the Showboats in 2023. He was named to the All-USFL Team in 2023.
The Showboats (then the Tampa Bay Bandits) drafted Atkins in the 26th round (210th pick) of the 2022 USFL Draft. In 2022, Atkins made 26 tackles (13 solo, 13 assists) two tackles for loss, half a sack, and one pass breakup in ten games for the Bandits.
Before Memphis, Atkins signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He would also spend time with the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons playing 14 games with 22 tackles (14 solo, 8 assists).
Collegiately, Atkins played four seasons at Georgia (2014-17) with 81 tackles (30 solo, 51 assists), 3.5 tackles for loss, five pass breakups, and one fumble recovery in 36 games for the Bulldogs.
