Before Texas A&M defensive tackle Albert Regis received his draft day call from GM James Gladstone, he already knew that the Jacksonville Jaguars were going to select him.
How? In the hours before Day 2 began, Regis' daughter, Akari, made the selection for her dad.
Former Texas A&M DT Albert Regis’ daughter, Akari, got to “pick” his draft spot this morning, and crawled to the Jaguars cup. Hours later, Jacksonville picked Regis at No. 81 overall. 🔮 pic.twitter.com/pfZZ13PGYA
When speaking with the Jaguars' media after being selected, Regis explained how this all came to be.
"Believe it or not, it was my fiancé's idea," Regis said. "She was like, 'hey I got this idea, let's let Akari, put out some cups, let her crawl to what she thinks,' and I was like, sure, why not. Then I go and play the game and her family's in town, so they all get in and I'm watching in the background and then every time they're like she went to Jacksonville, she went to Jacksonville, she went to Jacksonville, and I was like, well, since the end of the season I've been saying Duval is where I want to be, and she went three times, and it was just like, God, it’s written in the books. God never lies. He never does wrong. I’m here, and that’s just amazing.”
Regis was one of Pro Football Focus's higher-rated run defenders in each of the last two seasons. Among all defensive tackles last season, he also ranked tied for 10th in run stop rate as well.
He was the Jaguars' second pick in this year's draft, with Jacksonville selecting him in the third round at pick 81 overall.
"That's just where I wanted to be," Regis said of why he wanted to be a Jaguar. "I just loved the way the team played. The way the defense played and it was a scheme that I could fit in. So I did a Zoom with them and went over some plays, and got to understand their defense. I just knew that's where I wanted to be, and I'd thrive best in this defense."
Former Texas A&M DT Albert Regis tells the Jacksonville Jaguars media the origin behind his daughter, Akari, doing this and said he wanted to go to the Jaguars all along.“God, it’s written in the books. God never lies. He never does wrong. I’m here, and that’s just amazing.” https://t.co/oQmyXMrThJ pic.twitter.com/qUPmaiY4x5
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: 2026 NFL draft: Albert Regis not surprised Jaguars selected him