SE: Kendall Adams Returns from Injury as Same Player, Against Familiar Opponent to Open 2018 Season
Aug 31, 2018 | Football, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
There are two main similarities between K-State safety Kendall Adams' first K-State game as a redshirt freshman and his first as a senior this Saturday.
One is South Dakota. K-State faced the Coyotes in its 2015 season-opener, winning 34-0, and will host them to start this season on Saturday at 6:10 p.m., on ESPN3.
The other is an unknown feeling going in — part nervousness, part excitement.
In 2015, Adams was a wide-eyed newbie to the field. He made two tackles, both in the third quarter — his first playing time in purple. He caught on quickly, becoming the starter for the season's final four games.
This time around, he's a veteran in his fifth year at K-State. He's started 28 games in his career since earning the job as a freshman. He only lost it last season because of an injury, which ended his junior campaign early and laid out a long road back to his senior year.
So, like three years ago, Adams said he's not sure what to expect in his first game back and his last home opener at K-State.
"I have no clue what it's going to feel like, but I'm extremely excited," Adams said. "It's kind of crazy that my first game my senior year is against them again. I'm just excited for it."
When Adams went down last season against Oklahoma State, he was playing at an exciting level.
The Fort Worth, Texas, native had an interception, four tackles and a pass defended against the Cowboys before getting hurt. The week before against West Virginia, he collected a career-high 11 tackles and tied his career-best with two passes defended. Despite missing the final two games of the season completely, he still finished fourth on the team in tackles (63) and second in interceptions (3).
"I was really confident," Adams said, before explaining why. "My dad used to tell me growing up, 'You're more confident when you know you've put the work in.' I definitely did, leading up to the season and in practice every week (last year). When you know you've worked and you know you've prepared, it's easy to be confident."
Is he more confident now, considering what he went through to get back?
"Definitely," Adams answered, without hesitation.
At first, Adams was told he would not be fully cleared for six to eight months after suffering the injury. He was back in five.
The process was not as simple as physically working hard, however. Adams had to overcome the fear of reinjury. He had to trust his body to do things that were once second-nature, like cutting.
Adams said K-State associate athletic trainer Mindy Hoffman played a pivotal role in these areas.
"I'm really thankful for her. Obviously, that's a tough injury to deal with, especially in the beginning when I was so scared that I was going to do something to mess it up. Mindy would push me to try to test it," he said. "She gave me the confidence that it's fixed and now it's just to the point where you have to strengthen it."
Then there was the guidance his father, Shon, provided. Adams said whenever he came across "dark times" in the recovery process – and there were plenty of those times – his father stepped in to steer him toward a positive outlook.
"Right after it happened, I couldn't imagine being able to play again," Adams said. "There were a couple of months where I couldn't even walk alone. I really will never take walking for granted again.
"(My dad) pushed me to keep moving forward. When you have an injury like that, your attitude has a lot to do with how you respond to it.Just keeping a positive mind, knowing that I could get back to the player that I was, or even better, I just had to keep that in the back of my mind when I was working out and training. He was just reminding me that I'm not a stranger to hard work, and I knew it was going to take a bunch of hard work."
Adams said embracing milestones — such as walking, jogging, sprinting, cutting and his first practice back — during his recovery also helped push him through the hard work. While he missed the spring period, Adams said he took full advantage of the summer to knock off some expected rust from being out so long.
So far, his teammates and coaches have seen the same player who earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors last season for a breakout performance that included a pick-six and scoop-and-score against Charlotte.
"It's like watching the exact same player out there," senior linebacker Sam Sizelove said. "He's a freak and he's going to make plays, just like he did last year."
Added head coach Bill Snyder: "He's probably playing as well as I can remember."
In the first practice of fall camp, Adams said he nabbed an interception — another milestone and confidence boost for the 2018 Preseason All-Big 12 selection.
"To see his road to recovery and how hard he worked to be running around as fast as he is and moving as well as he is, I'm super proud of him," strong safety Denzel Goolsby said. "I'm excited to see the things that he does."
A co-captain this season, Adams also brings a vital level of leadership to the Wildcat secondary. His presence in practice has been as noticeable from that standpoint as it has been from his playmaking ability.
"I'm excited to have 21 back on the field for us," K-State defensive coordinator Blake Seiler said. "Just from an experience level, he knows the defense. He's just one of those guys that makes the guys around him better because he knows where to get you."
"(His leadership) is a big deal. He's the captain of the secondary," Sizelove added. "He gives everyone confidence whenever he's out there on the field. It's been huge having him back."
There are two main similarities between K-State safety Kendall Adams' first K-State game as a redshirt freshman and his first as a senior this Saturday.
One is South Dakota. K-State faced the Coyotes in its 2015 season-opener, winning 34-0, and will host them to start this season on Saturday at 6:10 p.m., on ESPN3.
The other is an unknown feeling going in — part nervousness, part excitement.
In 2015, Adams was a wide-eyed newbie to the field. He made two tackles, both in the third quarter — his first playing time in purple. He caught on quickly, becoming the starter for the season's final four games.
This time around, he's a veteran in his fifth year at K-State. He's started 28 games in his career since earning the job as a freshman. He only lost it last season because of an injury, which ended his junior campaign early and laid out a long road back to his senior year.
So, like three years ago, Adams said he's not sure what to expect in his first game back and his last home opener at K-State.
"I have no clue what it's going to feel like, but I'm extremely excited," Adams said. "It's kind of crazy that my first game my senior year is against them again. I'm just excited for it."
When Adams went down last season against Oklahoma State, he was playing at an exciting level.
The Fort Worth, Texas, native had an interception, four tackles and a pass defended against the Cowboys before getting hurt. The week before against West Virginia, he collected a career-high 11 tackles and tied his career-best with two passes defended. Despite missing the final two games of the season completely, he still finished fourth on the team in tackles (63) and second in interceptions (3).
"I was really confident," Adams said, before explaining why. "My dad used to tell me growing up, 'You're more confident when you know you've put the work in.' I definitely did, leading up to the season and in practice every week (last year). When you know you've worked and you know you've prepared, it's easy to be confident."
Is he more confident now, considering what he went through to get back?
"Definitely," Adams answered, without hesitation.
At first, Adams was told he would not be fully cleared for six to eight months after suffering the injury. He was back in five.
The process was not as simple as physically working hard, however. Adams had to overcome the fear of reinjury. He had to trust his body to do things that were once second-nature, like cutting.
Adams said K-State associate athletic trainer Mindy Hoffman played a pivotal role in these areas.
"I'm really thankful for her. Obviously, that's a tough injury to deal with, especially in the beginning when I was so scared that I was going to do something to mess it up. Mindy would push me to try to test it," he said. "She gave me the confidence that it's fixed and now it's just to the point where you have to strengthen it."
Then there was the guidance his father, Shon, provided. Adams said whenever he came across "dark times" in the recovery process – and there were plenty of those times – his father stepped in to steer him toward a positive outlook.
"Right after it happened, I couldn't imagine being able to play again," Adams said. "There were a couple of months where I couldn't even walk alone. I really will never take walking for granted again.
"(My dad) pushed me to keep moving forward. When you have an injury like that, your attitude has a lot to do with how you respond to it.Just keeping a positive mind, knowing that I could get back to the player that I was, or even better, I just had to keep that in the back of my mind when I was working out and training. He was just reminding me that I'm not a stranger to hard work, and I knew it was going to take a bunch of hard work."
Adams said embracing milestones — such as walking, jogging, sprinting, cutting and his first practice back — during his recovery also helped push him through the hard work. While he missed the spring period, Adams said he took full advantage of the summer to knock off some expected rust from being out so long.
So far, his teammates and coaches have seen the same player who earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors last season for a breakout performance that included a pick-six and scoop-and-score against Charlotte.
"It's like watching the exact same player out there," senior linebacker Sam Sizelove said. "He's a freak and he's going to make plays, just like he did last year."
Added head coach Bill Snyder: "He's probably playing as well as I can remember."
In the first practice of fall camp, Adams said he nabbed an interception — another milestone and confidence boost for the 2018 Preseason All-Big 12 selection.
"To see his road to recovery and how hard he worked to be running around as fast as he is and moving as well as he is, I'm super proud of him," strong safety Denzel Goolsby said. "I'm excited to see the things that he does."
A co-captain this season, Adams also brings a vital level of leadership to the Wildcat secondary. His presence in practice has been as noticeable from that standpoint as it has been from his playmaking ability.
"I'm excited to have 21 back on the field for us," K-State defensive coordinator Blake Seiler said. "Just from an experience level, he knows the defense. He's just one of those guys that makes the guys around him better because he knows where to get you."
"(His leadership) is a big deal. He's the captain of the secondary," Sizelove added. "He gives everyone confidence whenever he's out there on the field. It's been huge having him back."
Players Mentioned
K-State FB | Welcome back Collin Klein
Monday, December 08
K-State FB | Head Coach Collin Klein Radio Interview
Friday, December 05
K-State FB | Head Coach Collin Klein Official Introductory Event
Friday, December 05
K-State FB | Thank You Coach Klieman
Wednesday, December 03
