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Tom Adams, in his sixth season at the University of Kentucky, guides the Wildcat defensive tackles. Based on his unit’s performance during spring practice, it is an enviable task. After having battled injuries last season, UK tackles Dewayne Robertson, Jeremy Caudill, and Ellery Moore played full-steam-ahead in the spring. With senior John Robinson also figuring into the mix for playing time, the tackles positions loom as a strength of the 2002 defense. Despite missing the final three games because of injury, Moore was a consensus choice for the SEC All-Freshman teams. Robertson also earned that honor in his freshman season in 2000. With injuries striking last year’s tackles, Adams brought out the best in senior Derrick Johnson. Little-used prior to the 2001 season, Johnson proved to be a reliable performer and has gone on to sign a free-agent contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. Handling the entire defensive line prior to the 2000 season, Adams’ 1999 D-Line increased its production across the board over the ‘98 season. The Wildcat linemen totaled 183 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, and 18 quarterback sacks. The Kentucky line helped limit opponents to 148.5 rushing yards per game, the best mark for a UK defense since 1987. End Dennis Johnson led the way with 39 tackles and five sacks and was chosen second-team All-SEC.
Adams coached the defensive ends in 1997. Under Adams’ guidance, Bamidele Ali ranked third in the SEC in quarterback sacks with seven, even though Ali was in his first season as a defensive lineman. UK’s ends notched 17 of UK’s 21 sacks. Adams came to UK from Southern Methodist University. While at SMU, Adams coached the defensive line for three years and the defensive tackles one year, including 1993 All-Southwest Conference performers Chad Patton and Adam Voyles. From 1985-92, Adams guided the defensive line at Sam Houston State. In his final season at SHSU, Adams’ defensive line helped set a single-season school record with 47 quarterback sacks. In 1991, Sam Houston State won the Southland Conference and made the NCAA I-AA playoffs. Adams coached seven all-conference players and one All-American at Sam Houston State. Adams got his first full-time coaching position at Wharton County (Texas) Junior College, where he led the offensive and defensive lines from 1982-85. Adams played his college football at Rice. He won the team’s Most Valuable Defensive Lineman Award in 1979 and 1980 and was the team captain during his senior season. He spent the 1981 season as a student assistant coach with the Owls’ defensive line. He completed his bachelor’s degree, with a double major in psychology and physical education, in 1982. Adams and his wife, Rita, have two duaghters – Brandi and Beth. Adams’ Coaching Experience Year School/Team Position 1981 Rice Student Assistant (Defensive Line) 1982-84 Wharton County JC Assistant (Offensive Line, Defensive Line) 1985-92 Sam Houston State Assistant (Defensive Line) 1993-96 Southern Meth. Assistant (Defensive Tackles) 1997 Kentucky Assistant (Defensive Ends) 1998-99 Kentucky Assistant (Defensive Line) 2000- Kentucky Assistant (Defensive Tackles) |
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