Jamar Adams

SS, LB · Michigan
Jamar Adams played a supporting role in a talent-laden secondary for three years and had a banner senior season taking over leadership of a young defensive backfield. Adams' leadership and accountability led to coaches inviting him into staff meetings in 2007. The result was a vastly improved pass defense, as the Wolverines finished the season ranked eighth nationally, allowing just 178.85 aerial yards per game, after placing 89th in the nation in 2006 in that category. A classic inside-the-box type of safety, Adams improved his coverage skills in 2007. He had just one interception and nine pass breakups during his first 34 games at the school and then broke up 13 passes and picked off three others in 13 contests in '07. Adams was rated as the ninth-best prospect in North Carolina, the 18th-best safety in the nation and the 80th-best overall prospect in the Atlantic East by Rivals100.com as a senior at Butler High School. He was rated the sixth-best player in the state by Super Prep and was graded a four-star prospect by MaxEmfingerRecruiting.com. He was named to the CBS Sports All-American and chosen as a Wendy's High School Heisman finalist. The team captain was a 2003 North Carolina Shrine Bowl participant and selected as the Charlotte Observer Player of the Year as a senior. He was an All-State, All-Conference and Conference Player of the Year choice and voted "Best Defensive Back" for his varsity team four consecutive seasons. He added All-Southwestern Conference Class 4A honors as a sophomore, junior and senior. He was also a three-time Honor Roll student. Adams totaled 225 tackles, 23 interceptions, three sacks, six forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one blocked field goal in his four-year career at cornerback and safety. He caught 55 passes for 904 yards and 19 touchdowns in his career on offense. He also had three punt returns for touchdowns in his career. As a senior, he recorded 86 tackles with ten interceptions, as he three returned for touchdowns. He also caught 34 passes for 402 yards and 10 scores at wide receiver. He added five interceptions with 25 tackles as a junior and posted 69 tackles with seven interceptions and two forced fumbles, with five catches for 65 yards and one touchdown on offense as a sophomore. As a freshman, he made 45 tackles with two interceptions. A member of the nationally ranked chess club in high school, Adams also participated in basketball and was a three-year member of the track team. While at Butler High, he attended the University of Michigan's summer football camp in both 2000 and 2003. Adams appeared in nine games as a reserve strong safety in 2004 at Michigan. He went on to make six tackles (five solo), mostly performing on special teams. He started eight games as a sophomore, including the final six contests, as he delivered 27 tackles (20 solo) with a stop behind the line of scrimmage and two pass breakups. Adams registered 47 tackles (39 solo), a sack, three stops for losses and a forced fumble. He intercepted one pass and deflected seven others, earning All-Big Ten Conference second-team recognition from the league's coaches. As a senior, Adams again garnered second-team All-Big Ten accolades. The strong safety led the team with a career-high 92 tackles (39 solo), the second-highest total by a Big Ten defensive back in 2007. He added a sack with 2.5 stops for losses, as he deflected thirteen passes and intercepted three others. In 47 games at Michigan, Adams started 34 contests. He recorded 172 tackles (103 solo) with two sacks for minus-18 yards and 6.5 stops for losses of 25 yards. He caused a fumble and broke up 22 passes, gaining 58 yards on four interception returns.

positives

Has a developing frame that can carry at least another 10 pounds of bulk with no loss in quickness...Possesses long arms and good reach to extend for the ball, but needs to work on his hand technique, as he will catch with his body...Very active and alert in run force and more comfortable playing inside the box than dropping off in pass coverage...Quiet leader, but praised by the staff for his game-preparation skills and keen knowledge of the playbook...Makes all the adjustment calls for the secondary...Has adequate foot speed, good balance and a quick closing burst on plays in front of him...Physical shows good urgency getting to the ball...Has the strength to impact a ballcarrier, especially when he keeps his pads down, drives with his legs and uses his hands to wrap and secure...Called by the staff as the team's accountable player, citing his maturity and work ethic...Better hitter than wrap-up tackler, but generates good power when laying into opponents and shows good hand usage and punch when trying to reroute tight ends and slot backs...Locates the ball quickly when attacking downhill and is smart enough to easily recognize the flow of the play...Not the type that will be fooled by run action (will sometimes bite on pump fakes when playing in the deep zone)...Likes to press and generate tight coverage in the short area (gives too much cushion in the back third of the field)...Struggles some off the turn, but is efficient in his backpedal retreat...Has the functional quickness to cover in the flat, but is best using his recovery ability to flash inside...Gets a good read on the ball to break and close when he keeps the action in front of him...Compensates for a lack of blazing speed by taking good angles to close...Has the long arms to reach around and disrupt the pass before it gets to the receiver's hands...Durable athlete who will play through pain...Makes good body adjustments trying to get to off-target throws...Aggressive in run support, as he is very good at adjusting to the outside run and using his strength to redirect it back inside...Likes to get involved at the line and unlike most safeties, he has had good success splitting double teams...Best when taking angles and dragging down runners, but would be even better if he faces up more often.

compares to

JAMES BUTLER-New York Giants...Adams plays better in the box than he does in man coverage. He will need to put on a few pounds to play his game at the next level, but even though he hits with good pop on contact, he must improve his tackling technique and become less of a drag-down, collision-type than one who will consistently wrap up. He is a bit cautious playing in the deep zone. While he has confidence in his downhill ability, he does not have the explosion coming out of his pedal to stay with the receiver long. He is a good short-area coverage defender, with good field intelligence and watches more film than the coaching staff. In a weak crop of talent, he stands out as the best strong safety prospect, but there are a few holes in his game (hands, wrap-up technique, man coverage) that will need to be fixed before he can step into a starting job at the next level.

negatives

Needs to add at least another 10 pounds of bulk to his frame to absorb punishment at the next level when playing in the box (better near the line of scrimmage than in man coverage)...Needs to show better suddenness in his backpedal and transition, as he is sometimes late coming out of his turn, especially on deep patterns...Allows too much cushion in front, as he prefers to keep the action in front of him, but does not have the timed speed or recovery burst to get back into the action when a receiver gets behind him...Loses concentration at times when trying to locate the ball in flight and most of his pass deflections could have easily converted into interceptions if he did not have such adequate hands (lets the ball into the body rather than extending for it)...Shows good ability to break up the pass, but does not use his leaping ability as well as he should competing for jump balls...Must improve his wrap-up technique, as ballcarriers have had some success getting past him when he tries to reach, grab or take a side rather than wrap and secure when attempting to make the tackle...Good contact seeker and can hit with a thud, but will get reckless in his pursuit and outrun the play...When he tries to redirect, he needs to open his hips better (wasted steps cause him to slow down in transition)...Does not have the timed speed or range to stay with the receiver in man coverage on deep routes...Has good acceleration, but it takes time for him to build up to it (not sudden)...Cites the reason for allowing a big cushion as it gives him time to recognize the play develop, but he looks hesitant in his closing burst and when he gets too deep in the zone, he spends too much time eyeing the quarterback (will bite on pump fakes)...Better taking angles to the ball rather than to have to suddenly put his foot into the ground and redirect...Good contact seeker, but you would prefer that he gets into position and not try to block down ballcarriers so often (adequate wrap technique).

No injuries reported.

Campus: 4.58 in the 40-yard dash

330-pound bench press

33-inch vertical jump

32 7/8-inch arm length

8 5/8-inch hands.

Attended David W. Butler (Charlotte, N.C.) High School, playing football for head coach Mike Newsome

Rated as the ninth-best prospect in North Carolina, the 18th-best safety in the nation and the 80th-best overall prospect in the Atlantic East by Rivals100.com as a senior

Rated the sixth-best player in the state by Super Prep and was graded a four-star prospect by MaxEmfingerRecruiting.com

Named to the CBS Sports All-American and chosen as a Wendy's High School Heisman finalist

The team captain was a 2003 North Carolina Shrine Bowl participant and selected as the Charlotte Observer Player of the Year as a senior

All-State, All-Conference and Conference Player of the Year choice and voted "Best Defensive Back" for his varsity team four consecutive seasons

Added All-South-western Conference Class 4A honors as a sophomore, junior and senior

Three-time Honor Roll student

Totaled 225 tackles, 23 interceptions, three sacks, six forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one blocked field goal in his four-year career at cornerback and safety

Caught 55 passes for 904 yards and 19 touchdowns in his career on offense as a wide receiver

Also had three punt returns for touchdowns in his career

As a senior, he recorded 86 tackles with 10 interceptions, as he three returned for touchdowns

Also caught 34 passes for 402 yards and ten scores at wide receiver

Added five interceptions with 25 tackles as a junior and posted 69 tackles with seven pass thefts and two forced fumbles, with five catches for 65 yards and one touchdown on offense as a sophomore

As a freshman, he made 45 tackles with two interceptions

A member of the nationally ranked chess club in high school, Adams also participated in basketball and was a three-year member of the track team.

General Studies major, enrolled in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts

While at Butler High, he attended the University of Michigan's summer football camp in both 2000 and 2003

Born Jamar Dontavius Adams on 11/29/85

Resides in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Physical Attributes:

Proj Rd: 4.0
Height: 6-2
Weight: 212.0
Forty: 4.59
Arm:  
Hand:   
Wingspan: --

Pro Day Results:

Cone: --
Bench: --
Shuttle: --
10: --
20: --
40: --
BJ: --
VJ: --

Combine Results:

Cone: 6.9
Bench: --
Shuttle: 4.49
10: 1.56
20: 2.71
40: 4.59
BJ: 10'01"
VJ: 34.0