Patience is a Virtue: Featuring Akiva Wedge
712 days, or 23 months and 12 days as Akiva astutely remembered. That is how much time had passed from the moment Akiva Wedge played his final collegiate game until he received his first contract as a professional football player. Coming off an historic senior season in 2019 that has gone down as one of the best ever statistically by a running back at the NCAA DIII level (1,140 total yards, 8 touchdowns, 5.3 yards per carry, 107 yards per game, ODAC Offensive Player of the Year), Akiva Wedge had it all mapped out. He would go the Liberty University Pro Day in March 2020, perform well, catch the eyes of scouts, and and garner enough attention that will lead to his named being called during the 2020 NFL Draft. But often as it always happens, Elohim had other plans in mind.
'“I understand more than anyone that everything happens for a reason”
- Akiva Wedge
Due to the onset of COVID, the Pro Day at Liberty University which Akiva had planned on attending had been abruptly cancelled. Let alone, a large majority of schools would end up cancelling their Pro Days. This would put Akiva and many other seniors in a difficult situation as they now had no opportunity to showcase their technique and skills in front of NFL scouts. Coming from a small school at Southern Virginia University, this put Akiva at an even larger disadvantage as NFL scouts were not going to come knocking down on the doors of a running back who played at SVU. With a defining sound of assurance, Akiva stated as one who knows well aware what it is like to battle adversity (check out our podcast episode with him from back in 2020) that “With all that I have been through, I understand more than anyone that everything happens for a reason.” Akiva however, was also extremely candid about the struggles that he would face during the waiting period for his first contract.
“Going day by day you ask yourself, is the opportunity ever going to show?” Akiva would ask himself on days after training for five plus hours on end. “You see other guys getting contracts and you tell yourself; I’m just as good as him, when is my time going to come?” Akiva would also explain as he recounted the most common thoughts that ran through his mind as he waited for his next contract. Not getting lost in the routine and maintaining your discipline were two of the biggest obstacles that Akiva said he faced while waiting for his professional contract.
“You become so accustomed to a schedule; work, train, eat, sleep, train, work, eat, sleep, repeat. You do it for so long that at some point you get lost in the routine and go through the motions. But it is so important to maintain you discipline and be intentional during those moments.”
- Akiva Wedge
With a grueling but necessary schedule of having to maintain a full-time job while also training five hours a day, Akiva pointed out how draining and taxing mentally a schedule like that can be on the mind. Akiva was candid when pointing out that he numerous moments in during that waiting period where he questioned he would ever see the field again, whether he was capable of keeping up this routine, and whether he loved the game as much as he thought he did. But in these moments of darkness, Akiva gave credit to his support system and how important they were to him during this time. “They would always remind me of how much I’ve accomplished, and how much more I’m going to accomplish. That little bit of extra reassurance would help keep me going.” Through the entire process, Akiva never questioned his abilities and whether or not he had what it takes to play in the NFL.
When asked whether playing in Europe was ever an option for him, Akiva chuckled and replied “Honestly no, I wanted to maintain my thoughts and my focus on one vision and that was being in the NFL”. But that all changed after one phone call, and that phone call came from France. When the Thonon Black Panthers, a professional football team from the top league in France, called Akiva back in October of 2021, he knew right away that this was different. “I loved the honesty, transparency, and how understanding the coach was when it came to my situation of sitting out a season.” Akiva described that first conversation with the organization as “surprising” and “eye opening”. And as the conversations went on for the next couple of days, Akiva knew that this situation was different and that this was an opportunity and blessing he could not pass up. Akiva knew that this was Elohim answering his prayers.
“I walk this journey alongside Elohim. So I have no stress or worries about what lies ahead because I know that He knows what’s best for me.”
- Akiva Wedge
“The biggest lesson that Elohim taught me during my waiting period is the power of prayer.” Akiva stated as he reflected on the lessons that Elohim taught him during his waiting process for his first professional contract. Akiva explained how he was forced to have to wait on Elohim’s timing and allow things to go at his pace. In reflection, Akiva knew he was not ready for his professional contract, he needed more time to develop. But the moment that he was ready, Elohim gave it to him in abundance. And with the signing of his first professional contract with Thonon Black Panthers, Akiva was ready to carry the lessons he learned during the waiting period into his first season of professional football. Lessons of gratitude, perseverance, tenacity, hunger, all of these lessons Akiva would carry into his first season as a professional football player. And those lessons proved fruitful
“I learned to be grateful, to be hungry, and to have tenacity every play and every time I stepped onto the field. Once you feel what it’s like to not be able to play, once you feel what it’s like to not know when it is you will step onto the field again, you never want to go back to that space.”
- Akiva Wedge
From leading the league in rushing yards, touchdowns, yards from scrimmage, and leading the Thonon Panthers to the championship game during the 2022 season, Akiva made good use of the lessons he learned during his waiting period and allowed them to propel him to another level on the field. But even through the success, Akiva made sure that he remained a student of the game. “They taught me to look at the game differently, in ways I never thought possible, that mental approach is what allowed my game to elevate.” Akiva stated with confidence. That mental approach is something that Akiva stated he intends to carry with him for the rest of his career. So with the immense success from his first season as a professional football player, has Akiva’s career goals changed?
“I’m not worried about the trajectory because I have faith that Elohim is going to have me where He needs me to be.”
- Akiva Wedge
When asked this question, Akiva stated emphatically “No, my career goals have not changed. Because my goal is to be the best player possible I can, the success I had this year only showed me how much more I can improve and what other levels I can hit.” After following this up with a question of whether his career trajectory goals have changed after most recently signing a lucrative contract with the Krefeld Ravens in Germany for this upcoming 2023 season, Akiva paused and spoke with a level of sincerity that for a moment made you feel like you were walking in his cleats when he stated “I’m not worried about the trajectory because I have faith that Elohim is going to have me where He needs me to be.” And by not following that up with another statement, it was in that moment when you realized that the first chapter in Akiva’s career as a professional football player had come full circle.
“Love yourself, love Elohim, be patient.”
- Akiva Wedge on what he would tell the 2019 version of himself.
“Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.”
- 2 Chronicles 15:7
