Clemson football: 5 great players who didn’t live up to the NFL hype

One of the most unique yet prolific players in Clemson history, Keith Adams measured in at just 5-foot-11 and 238 pounds. However, his size didn’t stop him from becoming one of the most dominant statistical performers since the program’s inception, which is saying something when you consider the names that have passed through Death Valley.

Adams served as a backup in his true freshman season but made his presence immediately known in the biggest possible way when he became a starter as a sophomore. He was as dominant as they come as he was arguably the best defensive player in college football, even if he only got Second-Team All-American honors. Adams led the country in tackles (186) and tackles for loss (35) and was second in the nation in sacks (16). All of those marks also set school records that still stand for a single season.

While he may not have been as impressive in his junior season, he was still quite impactful as he notched 183 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, six sacks and four forced fumbles. This time around he was a First-Team All-American selection and deservedly so. That led to him declaring for the 2001 NFL Draft.

Due to his size limitations, however, Adams wasn’t selected until late in the seventh round when the Tennessee Titans used the No. 232 pick on him. He bounced around the league, largely playing only on special teams. And while he carved out a niche in some spots as that type of player, Adams never found the same success as a pro than he did while with the Tigers.