Mike Adams, Senior, Offensive Tackle, Ohio State
Overview:
Mike Adams started his collegiate career at Ohio State full of potential but limited on production. That is often the case with the Buckeyes as younger players, no matter how talented, must bide their time behind experienced veterans. Adams was mostly limited due to a couple injuries that plagued his freshman and sophomore seasons.
Heading into the 2010 season Ohio State was looking to replace some offensive lineman. Adams finally had the opportunity to show his stuff and he clearly separated himself from the rest of the tackles on the Buckeyes squad. His emergence helped pave the way for quarterback Terrelle Pryor and running back Daniel Herron to have superb seasons. Adams did not go unappreciated and earned All-Big Ten first-team accolades by the media and coaches.
Final Projection:
At 6-8 and 300 pounds Adams is an imposing figure on the offensive line. He takes up a ton of space and no defensive end has an easy time getting around him. His quickness is lacking and he could stand to improve his footwork, but Adams has a ton of potential and could easily be the top offensive tackle in the 2012 NFL Draft class.
1/5/12 Update:
Remember when Ohio State started playing pretty well during the 2011 campaign? It was not just because Braxton Miller was growing up; it was because Mike Adams was protecting him. Despite missing the first five games of the season due to a suspension, Adams still garnered some All-Conference accolades. That goes to show how important he was to the Buckeyes. Adams has some questions to answer and some skills to work on, most notably his footwork, but he is still a great football player and should not fall past the second round.
3/17/12 Update:
Adams had a pretty bad NFL Combine. He came with questions surrounding his work ethic and he certainly did nothing to disprove the doubters when he had one of the worst showings at the weight bench of any offensive lineman. That is not what first round picks are made of and many teams will find players with more upside during the first couple of rounds of the 2012 NFL Draft. Adams may be a good bargain in the third round or later. He has talent and he can add a ton of strength with a year or two in an NFL conditioning program.
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