Johnny Adams

A high school receiver, cornerback and returner -- he had the nickname "Mr. Excitement" -- Adams garnered all-conference notice his last two seasons in East Lansing. His best attributes are focus and ball skills. Adams is dangerous with the ball in his hands and has upside as a return man. He covers best in a zone scheme but can hold up in man in the right scheme. Adams started two games and recorded a pair of interceptions as a true freshman in 2008, but missed most of the 2009 season due to a shoulder injury, earning a medical redshirt year. He returned as a sophomore in 2010 and started all 13 games, finishing with 50 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, 10 passes defended and three interceptions, earning Second Team All-Big Ten honors. Adams again started 13 games as a junior and recorded a career-best 51 tackles with three interceptions, averaging 47.0 yards per pick-off return including a touchdown. He earned First Team All-Conference honors and garnered pre-season All-American and All-Big Ten attention leading up to the 2012 season. Adams battled through injury much of his senior season, but still picked off three passes and was invited to the NFL combine, where he ran a 4.48-second 40-yard dash. "He's a second-third round grade," an NFL scout told MLive.com at Michigan State's pro day. "I was watching more film on him, and I missed on his athletic ability. He hasn't done anything to hurt himself since the end of the season, ran a 4.4 at the (NFL) combine. "Catching the ball, he's not the most natural guy, but he has the movement and he's a competitive guy."

leaner than ideal frame and lacks elite strength, needing help at times to finish. only average speed for the position and struggles if he doesn't win off the snap. needs to show better field awareness and use the sideline to his advantage. struggles to locate and get his head turned around downfield, much more effective when facing the action.

Infectious intensity but needs to keep it in check after the whistle blows. Let's his emotions get the best of him on the field and needs to play controlled. Will attract pass interference penalties with his feisty and grabbing style. Getting blocked on the perimeter and can be driven out of the play. Too many mental errors, even lining up offsides in 2012, an inexcusable mistake by a senior.

strengths

Smooth coordination and closes quickly. Loves to press and get physical at the point, often lining up nose-to-nose with receivers. Good timing in coverage to break up passes, using his eyes well to be an aggressive ballhawk. Confident and not afraid to jump routes or come off his man to make a play on the ball.

very good open-field tackler and takes accurate angles. physical blitzer and works hard to get off blocks. short memory and doesn't let mistakes phase him. battle tested with three years as the starting boundary corner for the spartans.

WEAKNESSES

Rated among the nation's top cornerbacks by Rivals.com (No. 34) . . . listed among the country's top athletes by Scouts, Inc. (No. 46) . . . nominated to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl . . . ranked among the Midwest's top prospects by SuperPrep (No. 69) . . . named to SuperPrep's and PrepStar's All-Midwest Teams . . . rated among Ohio's top seniors by Rivals.com (No. 23), Scouts, Inc. (No. 28) and Scout.com (No. 32) . . . four-year starter at Buchtel High School in Akron, Ohio . . . earned all-city honors as a senior after recording 115 tackles and three interceptions for Coach Ricky Powers . . . team MVP accounted for 1,800 all-purpose yards and 15 touchdowns in 2007 . . . registered six solo tackles, including three sacks, in the season finale vs. Akron East . . . had five solo hits vs. Garfield, including four sacks . . . made seven solo tackles vs. Kenmore and returned a kickoff 86 yards for a TD . . . scored on a 64-yard reception vs. Ellet . . . returned a fumble 70 yards for a TD vs. Warren G. Harding . . . first-team all-district and all-city selection as a junior . . . accounted for 2,200 all-purpose yards and 13 TDs in 2006 . . . led the Griffins with six interceptions as a junior, returning three for scores . . . returned three kicks for TDs in 2006, including two punts and a kickoff . . . returned nine punts for scores as a sophomore, including three in a game vs. Central Hower . . . also returned two kickoffs and an interception for TDs in 2005 . . . returned three punts as a freshman, with two resulting in TDs . . . also returned an interception for a score vs. Hoban in 2004 . . . also participated in basketball and track . . . honorable mention all-state selection in basketball as a junior after averaging 15.4 points and 8.3 assists . . . member of Buchtel's 4x100 relay that finished second in the state in 2006.

Son of Johnny Adams and Gwen Simpson . . . born June 9, 1989 . . . majoring in sociology.