Profiles In Terpage – A Countdown To The Football Season: D.J. Adams
By petevolk
A recurring series where we will profile every player and coach on Maryland’s roster, counting down to kick-off against Miami. Thanks to OBNUG for the idea.
Today we profile one of the players suspended for the opener against Miami.
D.J. Adams, Sophomore (RS), Halfback
Stats:
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 220
Ratings: Four stars, #17 in Georgia, #29 running back by Rivals; three stars, #62 RB by Scout; four stars, #16 in Georgia, #16 running back by ESPN, #29 running back in 2014 draft class by NFL Draft Scout
40-yard dash time: 4.48
High School Stats (Senior Year): 257 rushes for 1,584 yards and 14 touchdowns
High School Stats (Junior Year): 204 rushes for 1,462 yards and 11 touchdowns, 12 receptions for 95 yards and two TDs
College Stats (through one season): 67 rushes for 239 yards and 11 touchdowns
High School: Norcross High School (Norcross, Ga.)
How’d He Get To College Park?
D.J. Adams takes the title as most-hyped Maryland running back still on the roster (the transferring of Caleb Porzel makes this one easy). A four-star prospect out of Norcross, he was offered by Clemson and Notre Dame, among others, and was recruited by Auburn and Florida.
A bruiser of a running back, he was an honorable mention all-state selection as a senior, and redshirted his first year on campus at Maryland. Last season, however, he really broke out.
Although he was only third on the team in rushes and rushing yards (behind Da’Rel Scott and Davin Meggett), Adams solidified himself as the goal-line option for the Terps, leading the team with eleven rushing touchdowns, good for tenth all-time among all Maryland running backs and most ever by a Terp freshman.
Adams scored three touchdowns against Virginia and four against East Carolina in the Military Bowl, becoming the first Maryland running back with multiple three touchdown games in a season since Chris Downs in 2002. Points to you if you guessed that.
More after the jump.
Nickname:
D.J. is already a nickname. We are lazy.
Career Highlight:
Scoring four touchdowns against East Carolina.
Career Lowlight:
Getting suspended for the Miami game.
Arbitrary Top Five List:
Most rushing touchdowns by a Maryland back in a single season, since 2000:
1. Keon Lattimore, 13 – 2007
2. Chris Downs, 13 – 2002
3. Lance Ball, 12 – 2007
4. LaMont Jordan, 11 – 2000
5. D.J. Adams, 11 – 2000
Dream Season:
Adams only misses one game due to suspension, and scores double digit touchdowns again.
Nightmare season:
Adams becomes a pure situational back, as Jeremiah Wilson and Justus Pickett perform so well against Miami they warrant more playing time.
2011 Prospectus:
As it stands right now, D.J. Adams isn’t even listed on Maryland’s depth chart. After previously being thought to be in contention for the starting job with Davin Meggett, he was suspended for the first game against Miami for violating team rules, so we’re not really sure where he stands as far as this year and the future.
We can pretty much guarantee one thing, though. When D.J. Adams returns from his suspension, he will be Maryland’s goal line and short-yardage back. He excelled at the job last season, and there’s no reason whatsoever why he wouldn’t be back in that role this year.
What is uncertain is whether he can be a full-time back in the future. Right now Davin Meggett is the running back, with Jeremiah Wilson and Justus Pickett as the heirs apparent to the job. Adams is an excellent back in short-yardage situations, but it remains to be seen if he can be an every-down back.
For now, Terps fans have to wait until at least week two to find out what role Adams will have this season.
Up Next:
Our next player is the son of a former NFL great.
Follow this writer on Twitter @Pete_Volk.