Baraka Atkins attended Booker High School in Sarasota, Florida where he was a three-sport athlete as a member of the football, basketball and track teams. As a junior he finished with 79 tackles, 8 sacks, and a touchdown off of a blocked punt. As a senior he totaled 78 tackles, 25 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, and 4 fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a touchdown. He was named first team all-state at the conclusion of his senior season and he was selected to play in the California-Florida all-star game. He was considered to be one of the top defensive end prospects in the nation and he accepted a scholarship offer to the University of Miami where he sat out the 2002 season as a redshirt. Baraka earned a starting job the following season, starting 12 games, missing the West Virginia game due to injury. He finished the season with 43 tackles, 5 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles. As a sophomore, Atkins started all 12 games, seeing action at both defensive end and defensive tackle. He totaled 33 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, and a career high 6 ˝ sacks on his way to honorable mention all-ACC honors. As a junior, Baraka played exclusively at defensive tackle, starting 12 games, missing the Clemson game due to a knee sprain. He finished the season with 2 ˝ sacks and a career high 50 tackles. Baraka graduated with a degree in Business Management after his redshirt junior season, but he returned for his senior season, seeking a second degree in Marketing. He moved back to defensive end for his senior season, totaling 37 tackles and 4 sacks on the year.

Baraka Atkins has a ton of experience against top competition, having started the past four seasons for the Miami Hurricanes in the ACC. During that time he has proven to be a very versatile player who has started at both defensive end and defensive tackle. He is a very durable player who rarely misses a game due to injury. He has a good combination of size and strength for a defensive end with long arms to knock down passes and force fumbles. He is an explosive player with a quick first step that allows him to beat slower offensive linemen off the snap. He has good closing speed getting to the quarterback on the pass rush. He is a physical defensive lineman who is very good against the run. Atkins was bounced around between defensive end and defensive tackle during his time at Miami and his development suffered as a result. He needs to improve his pass rush technique and he also could do a better job of getting leverage on his opponents. Due to his experience at both positions, Baraka may be thought of as a end/tackle “tweener” by many. He would need to bulk up to be an effective defensive tackle at the professional level. I believe he is better suited for the defensive end position and he can play the position in either the 4-3 or 3-4 defensive schemes. Baraka Atkins is a versatile player who has a good chance of being a mid-round pick in the 2007 NFL draft.