Still Standing: How Aakiel Greer Became the Heart of the Washington Wolfpack

A Boy, a Ball, and a Mother Who Believed

Some football players are remembered for numbers. Others are remembered for championships. Aakiel Greer is remembered for something much harder to capture in a box score. He’ll be remembered for the way he keeps going when things get tough. He’ll beremembered for his unwavering loyalty and the way he kept working towards his dream.

In a game that routinely breaks hearts and even careers, Greer has become a symbol of persistence, loyalty, and belief. Now, he returns to the Washington Wolfpack for another year, representing the soul of a team determined to rise. Coach JR said Greer fits the exact culture they want to build, and after sitting down and talking with Greer, I see exactly what he means. He’s kind, he’s driven, and he’s determined.

However, his story does not begin under stadium lights or in front of scouts. It begins with a young boy at the age of five. The year you’re just learning to tie your cleats, he was chasing a football across a field. Greer was five years old when he first played flag football. Put into sports by a mother who believed, Greer played all the sports. However, football grabbed hold of him in a way nothing else did. 

“My mom had me involved in every sport,” Greer said. “But football just stayed with me. It never left”. 

That same mother and Greer’s family were the first ones to see the depth of his potential as well. She didn’t just cheer, she believed. 

“My mom was the very first person who believed in me,” Greer said. “She believed I could do anything I put my mind to.” When doubts crept in later in life, when teams folded, when contracts vanished, and his dream wobbled, it was her belief and the support around him he leaned on. In a game that rarely gives guarantees, Greer’s support system and faith from his family became his anchor. 

Finding Home at St. Augustine’s

Greer’s path to college football was not paved in certainty. After junior college, he received what many players would have considered a golden ticket. A Division 1 scholarship offer from Florida Atlantic. At the time, Lane Kiffin was running one of the most exciting offenses in the country. Receivers flourished in that system, and Greer could see his future unfolding there. They were about to lose four or five receivers and had a need for his size and speed. Big plays, opportunity, and a chance to prove himself on a national stage.

Then, suddenly, Kiffin left for Ole Miss. The offer disappeared with him, and Greer was left staring at a rapidly approaching signing day with no D1 destination. He had turned the others down, knowing he was going to be headed to Florida Atlantic to play for Kiffin. The short turnaround times that schools expect an answer didn’t allow him to sit on other offers while mulling it over. However, instead of panicking, he turned to what had always grounded him. Family.

His mom took a 14-hour drive from Mississippi to North Carolina to visit St. Augustine’s University with Greer. St. Augustine’s University was a small HBCU with a proud but often overlooked football tradition. 

“My parents would always do the visits with me. You know, Mom knows what’s best. I wanted my parents to help scope the scenery and see if it was a good idea. Even though it was my decision, you want your parents’ grace before going to a place.”

What Greer found there may have surprised him a little.

“From the moment we got there, it felt like home,” Greer said. “The way they treated me. The coaches, the faculty, it just felt like family.” That sense of belonging mattered more than the top prestige. Greer chose St. Augustine’s not because it was the biggest opportunity, but because it felt like the right one. That decision ended up paying off very well as he went on to flourish at the school. 

When It Clicked

At St. Augustine’s, Greer didn’t just develop. He exploded. Greer became a two-time HBCU All-American, a two-time All-Academic team, and a three-time captain. He played in the HBCU Pigskin Showdown and the FCS Bowl in 2021, as well as the Tropical Bowl in 2022. However, what truly shaped him were the battles. He lined up against future NFL defensive backs week after week, learning quickly that the margin between college star and professional player was thinner than most people realize. 

He remembers facing off against Kyle Dugger, who would go on to become a key part of the New England Patriots. He remembers Joshua Flowers, who would go on to play for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played well against these talented receivers. However, one matchup in particular really stood out and made him realize he could do this at the next level. 

“That was against Joshua Williams,” Greer said, referencing the Kansas City Chiefs cornerback and Super Bowl champion. “I had the game of my life against him.” Greer made the defining play that game, a game-winning moment that helped St. Augustine’s defeat Fayetteville State in 2019. Greer leaped high to complete the 39-yard catch, giving St. Augustine’s all the momentum they needed. That explosive play set up the game-winning field goal, with St. Augustine’s winning 23-21. It was the first time they had beaten Fayetteville State since 2012. A historic moment for the college’s football team, helped by a historic player in Aakiel Greer. “That kind of went viral, and that’s what really got my name out there,” Greer remembers. 

Suddenly, the dream of playing at the next level didn’t feel distant. It felt real.

The Cruel Reality of Pro Football

However, the professional leagues have a way of humbling even the most prepared. Greer quickly learned that talent alone doesn’t guarantee stability. Leagues fold. Teams disappear. Careers can be erased by circumstances that no player can control.

“Being part of teams going dormant made everything feel heavy,” he said. “You put in all this work, go through training camp, and then it’s just gone.”

Unfortunately, Greer had to experience a lot of that. It happened again and again. The MLFB. Wichita. Arizona. Opportunities that looked promising one day were gone the next. In Wichita, Greer was able to deliver the season he knew he was capable of. He recorded 22 catches for 303 yards and six touchdowns in just seven games, earning Second-Team All-AFL honors. It was proof of his ability. However, just as quickly as it happened, it was taken away when the franchise folded. 

In Arizona, he signed with a new expansion team and believed again. Training camp went well. The team chemistry was building. He was excited to play with a guy like Malik Henry. Then, suddenly, the team had nowhere to play. Another door closed. 

“I was really looking in the mirror thinking, man, this might be over,” Greer said. Many players would have walked away. Too many doors closing can be heavy on the heart and soul. However, Greer didn’t. He kept believing, as hard as it was. He knew he had to keep working for his opportunity. 

“As long as I can play at a high level, I’m going to play. That’s just who I am.” Determined, overcoming adversity, and being loyal to himself and the skillset he had. 

That belief is likely what Washington Wolfpack Head Coach JR Wells heard when he reached out to him. Wells didn’t call to make promises. He called to check on a player who had been through more than most. 

“He was just asking how I was doing,” Greer said. “Seeing if there was anything he could do to help.”

In a business that often feels cold, that warmth mattered. Greer went to Washington not because it was easy, but because it was honest.

“I’m loyal to the soil,” he said. That’s what Coach JR says. “Whoever believes in me, I’m behind you 100 percent. There’s nothing you can sell me that’ll make me turn my back on the people who  were there when I had nothing.” In a day where players change teams left and right, wanting to go here or there, wherever gives them the best chance of winning. In a day where even college athletes can transfer somewhere different every year, based on which NIL deal is best for them. In a day where there seems to be very little loyalty in sports, Aakiel Greer has the rare quality of staying loyal to those who put their faith in him.

Why Washington Feels Different

From the moment Greer arrived in Everett, he felt something he hadn’t felt in years. Stability. Under Coach Wells, the Wolfpack were building a culture rooted in accountability, trust, and connection. 

“Coach JR is a player’s coach,” Greer said. “You can make a mistake, and he’ll sit with you, go over film, and get extra work. He’ll sacrifice time with his family just to make sure you’re ready.” It’s a rare quality in a coach in these leagues. With stakes high and patience low, so many coaches take a different approach. One or two mistakes and you’re replaced immediately. Players don’t learn that way. Greer recognizes how important that is and how JR is helping them all get better. 

In 2024, Greer caught 24 passes for 247 yards and three touchdowns across 11 games. However, the numbers only hint at his impact. Even in blowouts, even with seven different quarterbacks throwing him the ball, he never stopped competing. The team never stopped competing. Many questions why the Wolfpack would even hit the road at the end of the season to go face a team like Albany. 

“One of my best games was against Albany,” he said. “People thought they were invincible, but I realized they’re human.” That mindset and that refusal to bow to circumstance is exactly what Washington is building. If Coach JR is the architect, or the farmer, as he put it when I interviewed him, then Greer is the soil to help it all grow. Loyal to the soil. 

Greer’s skill set is quite unique. He’s a 6-4 wide receiver with excellent hands and savvy route running. He gets in and out of his breaks quickly. However, he’s fast too. He’s one of the few high-motion guys who’s over six feet. He’s not your typical slot receiver build, but he can sure move like one. His versatility is what makes him such a dangerous weapon. I asked Aakiel what skill he prides himself on the most. 

“Honestly, just being versatile and making all the necessary catches. My job description is playing football. A wide receiver is to catch the ball and block. So being versatile enough to do that from anywhere on the field is what I pride myself on. Some people want to tell me I’m just an outside receiver. But I’ve played inside, I’ve run high motion. I stick out like a sore thumb running high motion because if you watch the arena game, even in IFL, you tend to see shorter shiftier guys doing that. I’m just trying to change the narrative. 

After this season, Greer had options. Other teams called him. Plenty of people talked. Why stay on a team that struggled so much when there could be better opportunities on another team? For Aakiel Greer, loyalty will always outweigh convenience, money, or any talk.

“Coach JR believed in me when I had nothing,” he said. “How could I walk away from that? Whoever believes in me, I’m behind you 100%. There’s nothing that could deter me from that loyalty. There’s no X amount of dollars. There’s nothing you can try and sell me that could make me turn my back on the people who were there when things were bad. I had nothing, and when I say I had nothing, I mean I didn’t know what team I was going to play for, I didn’t know what I was going to do. I was going to have to go back home. I’m just willing to give my all to the people who believe in me.” 

Greer believes winning is built on chemistry, not constant change. 

“You look at teams that win,” he said. “They keep their guys together.”

Coaching And Life After Football

Away from the arena, Greer spends his time coaching high school football, passing down lessons forged through his own journey. In 2025, his team went 13-2 and reached the State Championship, falling just seconds short of a title. One of his receivers even earned a college scholarship to play. 

“That’s what it’s about,” Greer said. “Passing down what you know.” However, it wasn’t just him teaching them. Greer learned from the players he coached as well. 

“I’ve learned so much coaching this group of kids. It’s almost like I grew up with them, so I know them inside and out, and just seeing them play hard for their brothers is something that I watch day in and day out, and it’s just infectious. Like me as a player, I’m passionate, energetic, and I try to infuse that with the kids and watching them go out every single Friday night and hone in on their game. I feel like seeing them use that same passion is a reward as it trickles down. I watched them not point fingers when things went wrong and take ownership. They don’t cry about it, they try to correct it immediately, and I plan on taking that accountability that I hold them to and making sure I hold myself to it when I get back to Washington,” Greer said, reflecting on his coaching. 

It’s something he wants to continue to pursue after football as well. 

“I feel like coaching is definitely my calling after football. I also love to travel to new places and try new foods,” he said. With the abilities he has, the good person he is, and the loyalty he has, I can definitely see him succeeding as a coach, traveling to different games, and making a big impact on his players. 

Before letting him go, knowing he had overcome so much adversity, went through a smaller school in St. Augustine’s, I had to ask for some advice that he would like to give young athletes who may be from a small town or small school that don’t want to lose sight of their dreams of playing football. He had a lot of great advice. 

“I feel like a big part is having supportive people around you. Having that support. Your family supporting you and supportive friends. And belief in yourself. You know, the belief in your craft. The belief in yourself, your craft, and your work ethic. Showing how hard you are willing to work, even when it gets tough, is important. You have to ask yourself how far and how hard you are willing to go for your dream. That’s what’s pushed me and driven me. Belief in God and your faith in Him, praying to Him, knowing, trusting Him, and that he’ll make a way for your dream. I’ve definitely been blessed to see what I’ve seen, go to the places I’ve gone, and the people I’ve met. That all happened because of Him. So overall, belief in God, belief in yourself, supportive people, and just hard work. Hard work beats talent every time.”

Aakiel Greer is somebody who continues to put in his hard work. He is blessed with the talent as well. We can all learn from him and the way he has approached his career and the character he has built. In a sports world full of players who are so focused on what’s best for themselves, his loyalty stands out as a unique but great trait. Loyal to the soil, he’s ready to help grow Coach JR Wells’ ideas in Washington, and he’s ready to shine. Keep watching because I truly believe what’s about to unfold in Washington for the Wolfpack is going to be great, and Aakiel Greer is going to be right there, making big plays.