Buckeyes LT Adams finally gets a chance

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

Mike Adams came to Ohio State as one of the most acclaimed offensive line recruits in the country.

Three years later — after a vague suspension, several injuries and a world of questions — he’s finally holding down the important spot at left tackle for the No. 2 Buckeyes.

Even he admits he didn’t think it would take this long.

“Coming in here, honestly I didn’t,” he said, appearing to carefully choose his words. “But the way things worked out are fine with me. It’s going good now and I’ll just try to keep it rolling.”

Big things were expected of Adams when he signed on with the Buckeyes, a 6-foot-8, 300-pound man-child of a tackle out of suburban Dublin’s Coffman High School.

But things kept getting in the way. First, there were the injuries — a shoulder in the spring of 2008 that required surgery, then a foot injury that ended his freshman season prematurely. Expected to take over the job in 2009, he was suspended for two games for unspecified disciplinary reasons. He returned from that exile to start four games before a knee injury in October led to surgery and another early end to a season.

So far this season, he has been solid at the tackle spot, literally protecting quarterback Terrelle Pryor’s back.

“In the past couple of years, I think he let some stuff bother him,” defensive lineman Nathan Williams said of Adams. “When he’d get beat, he would get a negative attitude. But he doesn’t think about it anymore now that he’s a starter. He’s older and he’s mature.”

Adams hints that it took time for him to accept what the coaches were telling him.

“The mental part of the game is the hill you have to climb when you come in as a freshman,” he said. “These guys will teach you how to play, they’ll teach you good techniques and everything, but it’s up to you to learn your playbook.”

Adams was selected as Ohio State’s offensive lineman of the week in its 43-7 win over Ohio University.

Coach Jim Tressel recognizes that Adams will grow into the job.

“Mike is steadily improving,” he said. “The key to being good is staying in there and getting your practice time which he has done thus far this year, and then learning from all the experiences that you have against all the different styles of teams you’re going to play. Some [defensive] guys are going to be small or quick guys, some guys are going to be rushers, some guys are going to be spin guys or whatever. I think the more he experiences, he’s going to be a good player.”Williams, who frequently goes up against Adams in practice, agrees.

“I was just watching film,” he said. “I looked at [fellow defensive end Solomon Thomas] and said, ‘Mike’s gotten a lot better.’ And he has. It’s obvious to everyone.”