Isaiah Adams, OL Illinois: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Adams was a three-star JUCO recruit from Garden City Community College in Garden City, Kan. in the class of 2022

Illinois offensive lineman Isaiah Adams has experience playing left guard and left tackle. The Canadian transferred from the JUCO level to FBS for 2022 and showcased himself well. He projects as a borderline top 100 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

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Isaiah Adams, OL Illinois: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Senior left guard from Ajax, Ontario

Background: Adams was a three-star JUCO recruit from Garden City Community College in Garden City, Kan. in the class of 2022. He previously attended Father Donald McLellan Catholic Secondary School in Ajax, Ontario, Canada, where he failed to receive a star ranking from 247Sports upon graduating with the class of 2018. Adams transferred to Garden City Community College from Wilfrid Laurier University in Warloo, Ontario, Canada. He was the No. 26 JUCO transfer according to 247Sports’ JUCO Composite board and No. 21 for On3.com. Adams was an unranked three-star JUCO product for Rivals. He was the No. 9 JUCO recruit for ESPN with a 78 grade out of 100. Adams previously played for the Durham Dolphins Football Club in Canada. He was his team’s Offensive Lineman of the Year three times. In 2016, Adams was an OVFL All-Star and was selected to represent Team Ontario. He also played basketball and rugby. Adams was born on July 21, 2000.

Injuries & Off-Field: N/A

Awards: 2021 NJCAA D1 First Team All-American, 2022 Third Team All-Big Ten (Media), 2022 Honorable Mention All-Big Ten (Coaches)

Pros: Experience at left guard and right tackle, potentially has tackle-sized arms, muscular throughout his frame, scans the field for work when uncovered, long lateral strides help him recover, steps to take the air out of the rush at tackle, quick to engage arms and lock out defender, imposing upper body strength, clamp strength, hand placement, nice pop in his hands, replaces hands, core and upper body strength to torque and manipulate defenders, contains defensive linemen who enter half-man relationship, stout anchor, defenders can’t play through him, washes defenders down the line in the run game, keeps pads low when pulling to maintain leverage going into his block, buries defenders in the run game, seals rush lanes open, comfortable climbing on combo blocks, wrecking ball at the second level

Cons: One season of FBS play, age, committed nine penalties in 2022, lacks the lateral agility to play tackle, struggles to mirror smaller defenders, foot speed, footwork is lackluster, late diagnosing stunts, processing is a second slow, occasionally blindsided in pass pro by crashing 3 or 4-techs, awareness in pass pro needs improvement, too quick to resort to holding, not immune to being outreached for his chest, drawn out of position chasing defenders in pass pro too often, plays a little top heavy which makes him vulnerable to club moves, gradual rolling out of his stance as a puller on gap runs, reach blocks test his quickness, lacks desired open field speed and agility, overruns block targets

Overview: Adams debuted at the FBS level last season, playing primarily left guard but also a little left tackle for Illinois. The JUCO product has potentially tackle-sized arms and a muscular frame. His long lateral strides help him recover if he’s ever beaten off the snap. When playing tackle, Adams stepped to take the air out of pass rushes and prevented defenders from getting into a rhythm. He is quick to engage his arms and lock out defenders. Adams has imposing upper body and clamp strength to pair with his quality hand placement. His hands pack pop, and he’s mindful to replace them when they fall off. Adams has the core and upper body strength to torque and manipulate defenders in both the run and pass game. He engulfs defensive linemen who enter a half-man relationship with him. Despite not playing with a great pad level, Adams has a stout anchor that defenders struggle to play through. He washes defenders down the line in the run game and puts noticeable effort into maintaining a low pad level on pulls to have leverage on contact. Adams is a bully in the run game who easily seals rush lanes open and terrorizes defenders at the second level. He scans the field for work when uncovered but is still developing his awareness of potential threats. Despite being an older prospect, Adams is late diagnosing stunts and is occasionally blindsided in pass protection by crashing 3 or 4-techs. His processing needs to pick up the pace. The Ontario native committed nine penalties in 2022 and is too quick to resort to holding. He isn’t immune to being outreached and giving up his chest to the defender. Adams is drawn out of position when he gets tunnel vision on a defender and abandons his gap. He plays a little top heavy, which leaves him vulnerable to club moves and quick swims. Reach blocks test his quickness, and he lacks the desired open field speed and agility to play in an outside zone scheme. Adams doesn’t have the lateral agility, foot speed, and polished footwork to play tackle and mirror smaller defenders at the NFL level. He’s not as technically refined as Chandler Zavala, a fellow projected late third round/early fourth round guard who is in the 2023 draft class, but Adams has a higher ceiling because of his superior physical tools.

Overall, Adams is a physically gifted guard with experience playing tackle who has the tools to warrant a top-100 selection. He needs to increase his awareness and processing speed in 2023 to lock down a third round selection. Otherwise, he’ll turn into an early to mid-fourth rounder.

Role & Scheme Fit: Left guard in an inside zone or gap scheme

Round Projection: Late Third to Early Fourth

Size: 6'5", 315 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 04-19-23