Former MLB Player Making Switch to CFB at Age 26, Ranked Higher Than Ja'Marr Chase as HS WR Recruit

Former top-ranked high school wide receiver turned MLB outfielder Jordyn Adams is attempting to make the switch to college football.

Adams has enrolled and plans to play football at SMU, On3's Billy Embody reported Tuesday.

The news comes after Adams, 26, was released by the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Adams originally signed with UNC to play wide receiver as a 4-star prospect in the 2018 recruiting class.

He was ranked at the time as the No. 8 wide receiver in the nation, ahead of LSU's Ja'Marr Chase at No. 15 on the 247Sports composite rankings. That recruiting class also included Amon-Ra St. Brown (No. 2), Jaylen Waddle (No. 5) and Justyn Ross (No. 7).

Adams instead chose to go into MLB after he was selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the first round of the 2018 draft.

He made his MLB debut for the Angels in 2023 and appeared in 78 games over two seasons before leaving to join the Orioles in free agency.

The outfielder appeared in 10 games for the Orioles during the 2025 season, his last in MLB. He signed with the Brewers in February and was released by Triple-A Nashville in May.

He will depart MLB with a career batting average of .165 with 13 hits and one home run over 38 career games. Adams also posted a slash line of .245/.327/.376 through 678 games over eight minor-league seasons.