USF’s Wide Receiver Sean Atkin’s storybook Rise to the Helm of College Football stands somewhere between an awe-inspiring TED Talk of a paramount player and an emotional biog of a hard-working kid who has his eyes dead set on the prize right from the beginning. But ideally, we can deem it both since the Viera native deserves all forms of shouts out from every corner of this world for how he carved out his destiny from just a walk-on of the USF team to being the ultimate flex WR in the Bulls’ locker room.

While the path wasn’t rosy for the 22-year-old, he got the back of his parents, Dennis and Jenny Atkins, all along.

Who Are Sean Atkins’ Parents?

The Atkins household was filled with love, laughter, and a fierce devotion to their only child, a golden boy wrapped in the warmth of Dennis and Jenny Atkins’ nurturing arms. Dennis, a blue-collar handyman for Brevard County, and Jenny, a dental hygienist who balanced her career with being a full-time caregiver, poured everything into their son. To the world, he was a typical kid, but to his parents, he was their universe.

Jenny would spend hours tossing a ball with her son, though her throws were less than perfect, often leading him to chase down wayward passes. But those imperfect tosses made him better. They sharpened his instincts, his quick hands, and his laser focus. What started as playful mother-son bonding turned into the foundation for a young boy’s relentless drive.

Yet, as idyllic as Atkins’ childhood was, the harsh weight of financial strain crept in. The laughter gave way to hard conversations about money, and the little boy with the golden arm realized that his talent might be the ticket to turning things around for his family. For Atkins, football wasn’t just a game—it was survival. A walk-on at the University of South Florida, he pushed through grueling days with the Bulls, while life off the field turned into a different kind of battlefield.

Real life hit hard, and for Atkins, that meant balancing the relentless grind of football with a full-time job at a convenience store. Every day, after team meetings, virtual practices, and sweat-drenched drills, he would pull on a different uniform and work 8 hours behind the counter. For most, this would be unbearable, but Atkins thrived on it. He fought for his marketing degree and the much-needed extra cash to keep his family afloat, all while chasing his football dreams.

His mother, proud yet pained, often wondered how he managed it all. “I don’t know how he did it,” she’d say with a mix of awe and concern. But Atkins had the heart of a Viking. He wasn’t just battling for yardage on the field; he was waging war on life’s hardships. Even in the quiet moments at the store, he would crack open his laptop, seizing any spare minute to work on assignments. Energy drinks became his lifeline—another crutch in the fight to stay awake and stay on track. “I got addicted to energy drinks because I was tired all the time,” Atkins admits, his voice a mix of exhaustion and resilience.

But through it all, his parents remained his true fuel. They were his foundation, his reason for pushing through the pain, the fatigue, and the doubt.

Superstitious? Maybe. Determined? Without a doubt. Atkins has his rituals, his belief in luck, and his talismans. A pre-game meal of spaghetti and sauce is a must, a carb-loaded tradition that never fails him. And then there’s the No. 38 jersey—his armor, his obsession, and perhaps the clearest symbol of his never-say-die attitude.

From Sean Atkins to 38 Baby: A hilariously lucky transition 

From grabbing a scholarship to being on the records book, the once newbie has come along to become one of the most watched-for stars among the Bulls. ‘It doesn’t seem real, honestly. I’m just playing football and it doesn’t change the way I approach it. I know it will mean a lot later in life. But right now, it’s just surreal,” said Atkins. However, to spill the secret recipe for the formidable stats, the impact WR noted it’s only an unwavering belief in oneself that did the wonder. His belief, however, stretches up to his odd jersey no 38.

Upon the first shot at the program, the team assigned Atkins No. 38 — an unpopular jersey for a high-scale player like him. Gradually, he became so attached to it that he refused to change it to a more flashy single-digit look. He wanted the exclusive proprietorship over the number 38, even if it led to a joking-free of his teammates. Offensive tackle Donovan Jennings called him “38 Baby,’‘ after a popular rap song, but nothing can change his unreal obsession with 38.

Now, it remains to be seen if unconditional parental support, the lucky effect of the No. 38, and relentless hard work can take him to the NFL small receivers’ list, the next goal in his bucket.

If you want to know about other nitty-gritty of college football, you can refer to our ES Think Tank interview with Doug Sanders, founder of Sanders Sports and Entertainment.