After going unselected in the 1999 NFL draft, Akins was signed by the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League but was cut before the beginning of the regular season.
A representative of East Mississippi attended a track and field meet where Akins won the 100 metres and offered him a scholarship to play college football shortly afterward.
The Buffalo Bills later signed him to fill their final roster slot at wide receiver in training camp.
[5] After Curtis Jackson was released from the Tiger-Cats, Akins was moved to the active roster to replace him as part of the punt and kick return rotation.
[3] Akins was named Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in an October game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, where he caught eight passes for 257 yards and four touchdowns.
[10] In mid-September, Akins started in place of the injured Darren Flutie, but he was later moved to the practice squad in October.
[13] The Tiger-Cats lost the East Semi-Final 22–20 to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers after an offensive interference penalty was assessed on Akins in the final minutes of the game.
[15] Due to the CFL's import ratio requirements, Hamilton Spectator reporter Steve Milton speculated that Akins would be cut before the regular season.
[18] He later lost his starting position to wide receiver Corey Grant but continued to see regular playing time.
[19] Akins was held out of two games entirely near the end of the season to allow offensive lineman Gary Brown to return from the injured list.
The Montreal Alouettes expressed interest in signing Akins, but he decided to re-sign with the Tiger-Cats in May shortly before a deadline imposed by head coach Ron Lancaster.
[31] After missing games due to leg and knee injuries,[32][33] Akins finished the season with 482 receiving yards and two touchdowns.