Trey Adams, OT, 6-7, 330, 5.30 (40 yards), senior
Expectations for 2018:
Last October, Adams was playing well, putting himself on a first-round trajectory. If he stayed healthy and left Washington early for the 2018 NFL Draft, there is a good chance he would have been the No. 1 offensive tackle on several NFL draft boards. (The first offensive tackle selected was Notre Dame’s Mike McGlinchey at No. 9 overall to the San Francisco 49ers.)
Unfortunately for Adams, he suffered a torn ACL in mid-October, missing the remainder of the 2017 season and leading him to return to Washington for his final season. His surgery went well and although he didn’t participate in spring drills, all the news out of Seattle regarding his rehab has been positive.
NFL scouts are eager to see Adams back on the field in 2018, especially against Auburn on Sept. 1 in Atlanta, arguably the most appealing matchup of college football’s opening weekend. If Adams shakes off the rust and returns to form, he has a chance to be the highest-graded senior prospect in the 2019 NFL Draft.
What the 2017 tape says:
Adams is a bully as a run blocker, using his powerful upper body to control the point of attack with his punch. He flashes violence in his hands and takes pride in his finishing skills to seal run lanes and widen gaps, clearing room for the running back.
Although he isn’t an elite athlete, Adams is spry in space to mirror and stay squared to rushers in pass protection. Based off his film, he impressed me at the second level — not necessarily because of his athleticism, but because of his advanced feel for spacing.
While he shows a strong understanding of angles, Adams will lose the leverage battle due to his taller stature, leading to off-balance pass-sets. Improved knee bend would greatly benefit his ability to stay near eye level with edge rushers to match whatever they throw at him. Despite a few of those issues, Adams’ 2017 film showed a first-round player and future NFL starter.
Background:
Adams, a three-star recruit out of Wenatchee High School, earned first-team 4A All-State honors as a senior offensive lineman, also seeing snaps on defense. He first earned a scholarship offer from Washington State, with Washington, Oregon and USC to soon follow. Adams said he felt a connection with Washington early in the process, committing to the Huskies prior to his junior year.
Adams became a starter at left tackle as a true freshman at Washington, starting 23 games in his first two seasons. He started the first seven games in 2017 as a junior before a torn ACL injury ended his season.