John Atkins

Player Information

Johnathan Bandavious Atkins is an American professional football nose tackle born on December 21, 1992, in Thomson, Georgia. He played college football for the University of Georgia, where he spent five seasons with the Bulldogs. Undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft, Atkins signed with the New England Patriots but was cut shortly after. He later joined the Detroit Lions, where he made his NFL debut, and also briefly played for the Atlanta Falcons. In 2022, he was drafted into the USFL by the Tampa Bay Bandits and has since transferred to the Memphis Showboats, earning recognition as a member of the 2023 All-USFL Team.
Birthdate:
21 December 1992
Full Name:
Johnathan Bandavious Atkins
Birthplace:
Thomson, Georgia, USA
Nationality:
United States
Gender:
Male
Height (cm):
191
Weight (kg):
145
Education:
Thomson (High School), Georgia (College)
Career Started:
2018
Notable Achievements:
All-USFL Team (2023)
Current Team:
Memphis Showboats
Draft Year:
2018
Drafted By:
New England Patriots
Previous Teams:
New England Patriots (From 2018, To 2018), Detroit Lions (From 2018, To 2020), Atlanta Falcons (From 2021, To 2021), Tampa Bay Bandits (From 2022, To 2022), Memphis Showboats (From 2023, To 2025)
Player Active:
From - 2018, To - Present

John Atkins Bio

Johnathan Bandavious Atkins is an American professional football nose tackle born on December 21, 1992, in Thomson, Georgia. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and listed at 320 pounds, he has carved out a long career as an interior defensive lineman after going undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft. Atkins played college football at the University of Georgia, where he spent five seasons with the Bulldogs. He has since appeared in the NFL with the New England Patriots, Detroit Lions, and Atlanta Falcons, and currently plays in the USFL for the Memphis Showboats, where he earned a place on the 2023 All-USFL Team.

Early Life and Background

Johnathan Bandavious Atkins was born and raised in Thomson, Georgia, a small city in McDuffie County known for its strong high school football tradition. He attended Thomson High School, where he developed into a promising interior defensive lineman and earned attention from college recruiters. His size and strength made him a natural fit for the nose tackle position, a role that demands power at the line of scrimmage and the ability to occupy multiple blockers.

Coming out of high school, Atkins committed to the University of Georgia, choosing to stay in his home state to play for the Bulldogs. His path reflected the traditional Southeastern Conference pipeline, in which top Georgia high school prospects often feed into the in-state program. He redshirted his first year on campus, a common step for developmental linemen adjusting to the speed and complexity of college football.

Path to American Football

Atkins spent five seasons with the Georgia Bulldogs, using his redshirt year to build strength and technique before competing for a starting role. During his redshirt senior season, he became the Bulldogs’ starting nose tackle and recorded 38 tackles, including one for a loss, anchoring the middle of the defensive line. Over the course of 48 games played in Athens, he finished his college career with 81 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, five pass deflections, and one fumble recovery.

Although his college production drew some pro interest, Atkins was not selected in the 2018 NFL Draft. He signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent on April 29, 2018, beginning his professional journey as a long shot competing for a roster spot. That opportunity launched a winding career that has carried him through multiple NFL and USFL organizations.

John Atkins Career

Early Career (2018)

Atkins signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent shortly after the 2018 draft. Considered a long shot to make the final roster, he was cut at the end of training camp on September 1, 2018. Just two days later, on September 3, 2018, he was signed to the Detroit Lions’ practice squad, beginning a multi-year stay in Detroit that became the most significant chapter of his NFL career.

With the Lions, Atkins bounced between the practice squad and the active roster, earning his first promotion on December 18, 2018, after defensive tackle Da’Shawn Hand landed on injured reserve. He made his NFL debut on December 23, 2018, against the Minnesota Vikings, recording two tackles, one of which went for a loss, in a 27-9 defeat.

Detroit Lions Breakthrough (2018-2020)

Atkins’ role in Detroit grew steadily during the 2019 season. After being waived on August 31, 2019, and quickly re-signed to the practice squad the next day, he was promoted to the active roster on October 14, 2019. He went on to play in 12 games that season, including six starts, and finished with 20 tackles, establishing himself as a rotational piece along the Lions’ defensive front.

On July 29, 2020, Atkins announced that he would opt out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, pausing his career for a year. He was subsequently waived on June 2, 2021, ending his time in Detroit with 22 total tackles across his NFL appearances.

Atlanta Falcons and USFL Transition (2021-2022)

On June 17, 2021, Atkins signed with the Atlanta Falcons in an effort to restart his NFL journey. He was waived on August 14, 2021, during the team’s training camp. Looking for a new opportunity, he turned to the spring football league when, on February 23, 2022, he was selected by the Tampa Bay Bandits in the 2022 USFL Draft.

His time with Tampa Bay was brief, as the Bandits soon announced a hiatus. Atkins and his Bandits teammates were transferred to the Memphis Showboats, a fellow USFL franchise, giving him a fresh home in the league.

Memphis Showboats Era (2023-Present)

Atkins settled in with the Memphis Showboats and became one of the team’s most consistent interior defenders. In 2023, he was named to the All-USFL Team, the highest individual honor of his professional career. He re-signed with the Showboats on December 6, 2023, and again on August 26, 2024, signaling the organization’s continued faith in his role along the defensive line.

Notable Events and Milestones

Atkins’ signature NFL moment came on December 23, 2018, when he made his debut with the Detroit Lions against the Minnesota Vikings and recorded two tackles. His selection to the 2023 All-USFL Team stands as the headline milestone of his professional career, recognizing his production as a nose tackle for the Memphis Showboats.

John Atkins Family

Personal Life

Public details about Johnathan Bandavious Atkins’ family and personal life remain limited. Information about his parents, marital status, and children has not been widely published. He is active on social media under the handle “john_boy77” on X and “johnboy_97” on Instagram, where he occasionally shares updates about his football career.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season represents the next chapter of Atkins’ tenure with the Memphis Showboats. On April 11, 2025, he was placed on injured reserve, a setback that interrupted his time on the active roster early in the campaign. He remains a member of the Showboats organization and a respected veteran in the USFL trenches.

Coming off his 2023 All-USFL Team selection, Atkins entered 2025 as one of the league’s most experienced nose tackles. His ability to anchor the middle of the defensive line and occupy blockers has made him a steady presence for Memphis, even as injuries have tested his availability. The team will look to his recovery and return as it navigates the rest of the 2025 season.