Notre Dame RB Josh Adams Not Focused On Heisman Hype
It was apparent Notre Dame fans, and those around the program felt Josh Adams should be in Heisman Trophy discussion before last Saturday’s 49-14 win over USC.
Head coach Brian Kelly stated Adams would have the chance to get into the mix with the slate of games facing the Irish to close the season.
“Here's what I know,” stated Kelly on Saturday night. “We're going to play some really good football teams the rest of the year. Maybe everyone should just wait until the end of the year and vote for the Heisman.”
The 6-foot-2, 225-pound back ran for 191 yards and three touchdowns against USC and is now firmly in the Heisman race. ESPN and other national outlets have added Adams name to Social Media polls and the hype officially taken off.
Adams, who isn’t big on Social Media, downplayed the Heisman talk, but it’s almost impossible not to see it.
“I haven't experienced any hype around campus,” said Adams. “The only thing I've experienced is getting that notification of exams coming up. So that Heisman talk doesn't stop that.
“I'm just doing the same thing I've always been doing. My team has always been with me. I love hanging out with these guys, going to work with them each and every day. We as a team have never let any outside noise get in between of what we're trying to build here. I don't think that changes anything of what our mission is and what we're trying to accomplish as a team.”
The Philadelphia native has rushed for 967 yards and eight touchdowns on just 105 carries, and he’s quick to give credit to the guys up front.
“I love each and every guy on that line,” stated Adams. “It’s a lot of fun running behind them. They always bring their energy. They lead as a unit. They kind of allow others to feed off of them the way they attack each and everything that they do, whether it's from on the football field or just going to meetings. They attack everything and they lead by example. They make my job easy.
“We wouldn't be here as a running back unit having the success that we're having without those guys.”
Entering the season, the left side of Mike McGlinchey and Quenton Nelson headlined almost every preseason All-American team, but the Irish have had great success running behind the right side of the line. Right guard Alex Bars has meshed well with redshirt freshman Tommy Kraemer and true freshman Robert Hainsey.
“Right or left, you can pick a side,” Adams said. “I'm comfortable running either way. Every single guy has been balling, has been giving it their all and has been really dominating this year.
“When you talk about the line, you talk about them as a unit. I don't think you split them up into any sides because we're one football team. The left side can't do it without the right, and the right can't do it without the left. I can't do it without them.
“Every single guy on that line has been working their butts off throughout the week, just hammering things and really leading and bringing the aggression to practice. And it helps, and it pays off when we go play games on Saturday.”
Adams will have a chance to create more buzz this weekend as the Irish host No. 14 North Carolina State. The Wolfpack enter the game with the nation’s No. 6 rush defense. NC State is giving up just 91.3 yards per game and 3.04 yards per carry.
“They're going to be that type of physical team that we have experience going against,” Adams explained. “Of course, they're going to bring something that we haven't seen. And just like every team that we've played this year, they're going to bring their best. They're going to try to do what they can to disrupt us on offense.”
While Notre Dame will need to raise the level of play up a few notches this weekend, Adams isn’t focused on what NC State is going to do, but rather improving as an offensive unit.
“They have a lot of energy on the defensive side of things,” stated Adams. “They fly around. They're pretty sure tacklers. But again, none of that is really too much of a concern for us because it's more important of focusing on our side of things. Although we had a great game last week, it wasn't a perfect game. And that's something that we're still chasing as a team is trying to have that perfect game.
“So as an offense, we're going to do better on things that we may have lacked, and we're going to try to build on things that we have some success on. We're constantly trying to get better and improve as an offense, and we're going to continue to do that throughout practice.”
Adams was held in check against Georgia, as the junior had 53 yards on 19 carries. Stats don’t matter to Adams, as he would gladly take those numbers for a win.
“I'm not really too concerned about any of that type of stuff,” Adams said when asked if the Georgia game serves as motivation this weekend. “If I would have had the same game and we won against Georgia, that would have been a different story. I would have been fine with that.
“The fact that I wasn't able to do as much as I should have and get the win, my main goal is to do whatever I can possible to help the team win. So whatever area I can do that in this game I'm going to be happy with it. As long as the outcome is a win for the team.”
As for another chance to move up the Heisman list, Adams isn’t running away from the Heisman talk, but he also isn’t worried about it either.
“I'm not doing it for any of that,” said Adams. “I'm doing this for my family, God and for my teammates. I mean, that's all that really matters. If there's awards for stuff like that, that would be cool.
“We're just focused on, like I said, trying to reach maximum peaks as a team. So that's really where my focus is right now. Whatever happens with that, happens. My main focus is on the guys on the team.”