43
Recovered Adams ready
Special to the Vindicator
Photo
Youngstown State tight end Nate Adams (42) tries to elude strong safety Gannon Hulea (16) during the Penguins’ fi rst spring scrimmage Saturday at YSU’s Stambaugh Stadium.
The redshirt freshman TE did well in Saturday’s scrimmage
By Joe Scalzo
YOUNGSTOWN
After a surprising showing in Saturday’s scrimmage, YSU tight end Nate Adams got his first chance to talk about himself.
So, he did what any smart freshman would do — he talked about someone else first.
“It was a lot of fun being out there after being on the sidelines last year,” said Adams, who caught three passes for 26 yards in his first competitive action after missing last season with a medical redshirt. “I got to learn a lot from the upperclassmen.
“[Tight ends] David Rogers and Carson [Sharbaugh] helped me out with learning all my blocking assignments and my pass routes.”
Adams (6-5, 240) was a third-team All-Ohioan two years ago as a hybrid tight end/receiver at Newark Catholic, the alma mater of offensive coordinator Shane Montgomery. He had surgery last summer to repair a torn meniscus but said he’s 100 percent now.
“The knee feels perfect,” he said. “Nothing’s holding me back.”
Like YSU, Newark Catholic ran a spread offense and Adams often split out as a receiver during passing downs, then moved inside to tight end in running situations. Although there are similarities between the offensive styles, Adams said he learned a lot last season just by watching from the sidelines.
“You learn a lot about the game that you don’t learn in high school,” Adams said. “It was a great opportunity for me. It made me grow a lot.”
Penguins quarterback Kurt Hess said Adams is still learning the offense but his talent is obvious.
“At times he’s second-guessing himself on formations or routes and Carson and David Rogers are helping him and giving him the reassurance he needs,” Hess said. “But he’s got good hands, runs well and maneuvers his way through the defense.
“He’s a big target. I like Nate — he’s doing well.”
Added YSU coach Eric Wolford, “You guys can see what kind of threat he is. He’s a good football player and he’s only going to be a freshman for us.”
Sharbaugh played in all 11 games last year, starting six, as a redshirt freshman and led all tight ends with 10 catches for 123 yards and a TD. Rogers also played in every game and caught seven passes for 103 yards and a TD.
Rogers, however, was still recovering from a lacerated kidney he suffered in the final game of the 2009 season and said he’s only now getting back to full strength.
Between the three, Wolford feels good about the talent he has at that position.
“David Rogers has had an outstanding camp,” Wolford said. “I haven’t talked about David very much but he has significantly improved since last year.
“He’s a lot more physical, a lot stronger and he has a better understanding of the offense. And he’s become a threat, too. I’ve been impressed with him.”