Blue and Gold Illustrated

UPON FURTHER REVIEW TODD D. BURLAGE finding recruits that fit his style and Notre Dame's mission. While the in- jury dead-dropped Adams to a three- star recruit and only about the 50th best running back in the 2015 recruit- ing class, Kelly offered a scholarship anyway, and the coach's commitment paid quick dividends. One man's misery is another 's op- portunity, and when Irish starting tailback Tarean Folston was lost for the season early in the Texas game, Adams' role went from mop-up duty to backup to hero. Adams rushed 14 yards for a touch- down against the Longhorns on his first career carry. He later went 25 yards for another score, finishing his night with five rushes for 49 yards and two touchdowns. "He just had no fear," Kelly said of Adams' Irish debut. "There are some times when a freshman's called, he kind of looks like, 'Me?' He was anx- ious to get in there and expecting to succeed." No surprise there, given the success this nifty 6-2, 212-pound speedster en- joyed in high school before and after his injury. Check out these numbers. As a sophomore in 2012, Adams rushed for 2,089 yards on 8.2 yards per carry with 28 touchdowns. He also caught 20 passes for another 287 yards and two more scores. And as a senior in 2014 — when questions persisted about his knee and recovery — Adams rushed for another 1,623 yards with 25 touchdowns. He also caught 14 passes for 233 yards and four scores, and played linebacker as well. But statistics don't begin to tell the full story of Adams, or explain the rea- sons why Kelly never strayed from extending a scholarship offer to an injured player — a tender Adams ac- cepted in June 2014 when he was still in recovery mode and prepping for his senior season. Nobody would've blamed Adams, or any teenager, for sulking after a devastating injury. Instead, he said his hardship better balanced him as a player and a person. "It tests you as a person, either in a positive or a negative way," Adams maturely explained. "It made me real- ize things come and go so quickly, so you have to try to make an impact the best way you can." The injury kept Adams in recovery and off the summer showcase trail in 2014. There were no high-profile camps or elite seven-on-seven compe- titions, the types of events that build recruiting hype and reputation. For Adams, the summer of 2014 was only about a commitment to get better and play well enough as a high school senior to show Kelly he'd never regret the decision to take a chance on him. Two games does not a career or season make, but given everything Adams has already overcome and achieved, it's safe to say Kelly's risky recruiting investment will pay hand- somely for years to come. ✦ Todd D. Burlage has been a writer for Blue & Gold Illustrated since July 2005. He can be reached at tburlage@blueandgold.com

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