Gaines Adams

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Gaines Adams, (born on June 8, 1983), is a defensive end currently playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played collegiately for Clemson University.

[edit] High school career

Adams attended Fork Union Military Academy in 2001 and recorded 58 tackles, 22 sacks, and two interceptions in 10 games. He was a three year starter at Cambridge Academy, a small private school which only had an 8-man football team, where he was a dominant wide receiver and defensive end. His coach during high school was former University of South Carolina quarterback, Steve Taneyhill. In 2000, his team won the state title. During that year, Cambridge shut out four different teams, beating one team 80-0. They had suffered only one loss that season to archrival King Academy. He had 158 career receptions for 4,394 yard and 65 touchdowns, as well as 341 tackles, 10 interceptions, and 33 sacks in his career, and was a two-time All-state honoree. He chose Clemson over Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. He had narrowed down his choices to North Carolina and Clemson, then signed with Clemson after the Tar Heels unexpectedly rescinded their offer. At Cambridge, he was named to the Greenwood Touchdown Club/Index-Journal All-Lakelands Team (which included four counties)

[edit] College career

Adams redshirted in 2002.

In 2003, as a redshirt freshman, he did not see much action as the second-team defensive end, only totaling 15 tackles and a sack.

In 2004, he had 35 tackles with 8 sacks, and two blocked punts playing on special teams. For his hard work on special teams, Adams was awarded the 12th Man Award for Clemson's defense. Adams considered coming out for the NFL Draft after his sophomore year, but after the underclassman panel gave him a conservatively low ranking he decided to stay for his junior year.

Adams' 2005 junior year was the year he broke out. Adams totaled 56 tackles, 9.5 sacks, and forced three fumbles while starting at boundary defensive end.

For Adams' senior year, 2006, he was slated to be among the best defensive ends in the college football. Adams lived up to his reputation by starting all 12 games, recording 12.5 sacks, causing 2 fumbles and recovering 3. By the end of the 2006 season, Adams recorded a total of 28 career sacks, tying the school record set by Michael Dean Perry (1984-1987)^[1]. In addition, Adams was named to all five official All-America teams acknowledged by the NCAA in 2006, one of seven unanimous All-Americans this year.

[edit] Measureables

[edit] NFL Combine

Height: 6'4-1/2" Weight: 258 lbs
40-yard time: 4.64; 20-yard time: 2.71; 10-yard time: 1.58
Vertical jump: 35"; Broad jump: 9'11"; Short shuttle: 4.36; 3-cone drill: 7.17

[edit] Clemson Pro Day

40-yard time: 4.72
Bench press: 350 lbs
225 lb bench press: 20 reps
Squat: 465 lbs; Power clean: 345 lbs
Vertical jump: 36" Broad jump: 9'11"

[edit] NFL Career

Adams was chosen by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the 4th overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. He signed a six-year deal with the Buccaneers on July 26th, 2007, worth $46 million, with $18.6 million guaranteed. He registered his first solo sack against the Atlanta Falcons in week 11 of the 2007 season. At the end of the 2007 season Adams had 35 tackles, 6 sacks and 2 forced fumbles in 2007, he led all 2007 rookies with his 6 sacks. This performance gained him a place in the 2007 NFL All-Rookie team.

[edit] External links

• Gaines Adams Clemson Tiger Bio
• Gaines Adams NFL Draft Spotlight.

[edit] References