Akiliyah Sumlin - Director of Recruiting - Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Akiliyah Sumlin

Title:
Director of Recruiting
Email:
Phone:
901-678-5119

Akiliyah (AK) Sumlin currently serves as the Director of Recruiting for the University of Memphis football program. She began working at the University of Memphis in August 2025 as the Director of On-Campus Recruiting and was promoted to Director of Recruiting in January 2026.

She began her career in collegiate athletics in 2020 as a marketing intern and content creator for Tennessee State University’s football program. Throughout her career, Sumlin has built a diverse background in football operations and recruiting, which has led her to some of the most elite programs, including Austin Peay, Mercer and Kansas State.

Her experience across multiple programs has equipped her with a comprehensive, strategic understanding of football recruiting, talent evaluation and program development. In these roles, Sumlin has overseen recruiting operations, including creative content production, database and information management and the coordination of on-campus recruiting logistics. She has led the execution of both official and unofficial visits while providing critical operational support to ensure efficiency, compliance and a high-level recruiting experience for prospective student-athletes and their families.

Sumlin’s work is driven by a clear commitment to student-athlete success, paired with strategic recruiting leadership. She is deeply dedicated to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion within collegiate athletics, prioritizing inclusive recruiting practices and the holistic development of student-athletes.

A native of Langston, Oklahoma, Sumlin earned her bachelor’s degree in agribusiness with a minor in marketing from Tennessee State in 2021 and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in media management. As an undergraduate at TSU, she was involved in numerous organizations, including becoming a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.