Auburn's leading receiver the last two years is taking his talents to the NFL.Darvin Adams, a 21-year-old junior, has submitted his name for this April's NFL draft. Adams made himself eligible prior to the Jan. 15 deadline for underclassmen to declare but made no formal announcement.
Adams joins quarterback Cam Newton and defensive tackle Nick Fairley in leaving school a year early to enter the pros. He is projected to go in the late rounds of a draft flush with quality receivers.
The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Adams, who is originally from Canton, Miss., but played at Harrison High in Kennesaw, Ga., was the Tigers' top receiving threat each of the last two years.
He finished his Auburn career third on the school's career receiving touchdowns list (17), sixth in receptions (115) and sixth in yards (1,978).
After a quiet freshman season, Adams thrived his sophomore year in 2009 after Gus Malzahn became offensive coordinator. With Chris Todd as quarterback, Adams set the school's single-season record for receptions with 60. He finished with 997 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.
He earned MVP honors in the Outback Bowl by catching 12 catches for a bowl-record 142 yards.
With the Tigers more focused on the run this season, Adams' number took a slight step back his junior year, but not much. He finished with 52 catches for 963 yards and seven touchdowns.
He again saved one of his best games for the biggest stage, catching seven passes for a SEC championship game-record 217 yards — all in the first half — against South Carolina in the Georgia Dome. He caught two touchdowns, one coming on a tipped 51-yard Hail Mary just before halftime, to be named the game's MVP.
Adams' departure means Auburn will lose its top two receiving threats from last season. Adams and senior Terrell Zachery accounted for 95 of Auburn's 194 receptions (49 percent) and 1,568 of the Tigers' 3,002 receiving yards (52 percent).
Rising junior Emory Blake is the team's leading returner at receiver, with 33 catches for eight touchdowns in 2010.
A group of receivers are expected to see increased time in Adams' absence, including junior DeAngelo Benton, senior Quindarius Carr and redshirt freshman Trovon Reed. Those three caught four passes for 118 yards last season.
19 comments:
Go get 'em, Smoove!!! It's been a pleasure having you on the Plains!!!
Here's hoping Darvin all the best. He's been great for Auburn and hopefully that will carry over into the NFL.
I wish him the best too, but he will not be a high draft pick. He could even go undrafted. Oh well, I hope this works out well for him.
Seriously, though, how much is he going to improve his draft stock in the next year?
He won't be 6-5. He won't run a 4.2 40. He's going to be basically the same receiver.
Might as well start trying to draw a paycheck now when the stock of any Auburn player is going to be high.
Good Point, Andy. I think Darvin's stock is as high as it ever will be.
Stinks for AU though. Maybe I'll go ahead and reserve my Capital One Bowl tickets for next year!
The future begins next year. I think my fellow Auburn fans need to just relax in 2011 and try to have fun in spite of what are sure to be some tough losses. But that 2011 team should morph in to a pretty fearsome contender in 2012 and continue into 2013.
DeAngelo Benton: If you were ever going to step up, now would be the time.
We've got a lot of kids from last year and the year before that should ready to step up. Honestly this may be the only position we can take this loss at. God bless Adams!
Darvin always kinda reminded me of a less explosive Sidney Rice. If anything, we know he can play special teams so that added value might get his foot in the door somewhere. T Reed is going to play a big role as well as Goodwin. Q Bray might see early playing time with his crazy skill set.
My son and Darvin went to high school together, its nice to see someone you now go pro. I know ya'll auburn fans love our GA football players I wish Mark Rick would get on the ball getting there players were losing to auburn and ala. great year for ya'll congrad'sssss.
Don't forget that his development can be attributed to none only Trooper Taylor...now comes the new one....
Darvin does have two little girls, and rumor is that he couldn't support them while in class. If that's the case, good for Darvin and good luck.
We're really gonna miss Darvin. He would have provided great comfort to a rookie quarterback.
Best of luck to him.
Barrett Trotter isn't a rookie QB. And I think some teams are going to be surprised at how good Auburn will be next year.
Yeah if Barrett can sling it a little like C.Todd, I think we'll be golden, because he seemed to have some good wheels when he saw playing time. That'll be enough to break Dyer loose on the zone read. But he's seemed injury prone in the past so here's to hoping he stays healthy. Otherwise guess it's Kiehl time!
man,don't count out mosely if trotter goes down...saw him practice and remember the spring game last year?he threw it pretty well.....wonder where mosely fits in here
With Trotter or Moseley, our offense may look a lot more like ... Oregon's next year. Which hey, ain't bad. Probably not a championship team unless Grimes pulls a magic rabbit out of his hat on the O-line, but should be competitive at least.
Derek Winter is interning with an accounting firm right now. He isn't returning to Auburn next year for football.
Well, I guess I can take him off the list then.
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