Former Illini offensive lineman Isaiah Adams was drafted in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals.
Adams spent his junior and senior year at Illinois, starting in every game of his college career. In 2022, he led the team in knockdowns and got double-digit knockdowns in six of 12 games. That same year, he made the All-Big Ten third team and was part of the first offensive linemen in Illini history to be named a Joe Moore Award semifinalist.
In his final year, Adams was named a team captain, an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention and Academic All-Big Ten. The 6-foot-5-inches 320-pound lineman plays with immense strength and moves on the field with ease. His stature and quickness will make him a valuable asset to the Cardinals.
Adams bounced back and forth a couple of times between the guard and tackle position on offense, and his flexibility makes him even more valuable to his future team. He knows what he’s capable of and is willing to bring his fierce mentality to the pros.
“I’m not gonna flinch; I’m a fearless type of guy,” Adams said after Illinois’ Pro Day in March. “To just be one of the guys out there starting is a huge honor and something I didn’t take lightly. So right tackle, left guard, center — it doesn’t matter. Just to be out there is a huge honor.”
Get The Daily Illini in your inbox!
His leadership skills and positive outlook on the game will play an essential part in his upcoming endeavors. For now, his talents will be seen in Arizona, and Illini fans hope to see even more success come his way.
@tess_eken
