I wrote last year about how having a true Nose Tackle in Brandon Adams could transform Ted Roof’s defense.

While Adams didn’t quite get enough snaps to make that come to fruition this year, he did have an impact when he was given the opportunity, and showed great promise for the future.

2016 Accomplishments

Adams came to Tech way overweight, listed at almost 350 lbs. Since then, he lost weight and claimed during interviews to be around 335 lbs. Due to conditioning concerns, the coaches kept him confined to late game and goal line duties for most of the season. Still, he shined in those roles. Every time Adams came into the game, he made an offensive lineman look silly and often made a big play. Here are a couple gifs of his goal line plays in 2016:

Adams had his biggest game, perhaps, in Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate last year. With the run defense getting pushed around badly in the early stages of the game, Brandon Adams was put into the game on 2nd and 4. He did an effective job of holding the line, forcing a pass on 3rd down which was dropped. The ensuing field goal was missed. Remember that Georgia Tech won this game by 1 point.

In most situations, Adams has been the team’s best run stuffer despite being a young freshman. If he can improve, look out.

What to Expect in 2017

While Adams is effective now, he still has a world of room to improve, and that is exciting. Adams currently plays with high pad level, which will be easier to remedy once he gets his weight down. Due to his pad level, he can struggle with letting longer OL get under him, and can struggle to anchor against double teams and down blocks for his size.

As he gets quicker, stronger, and improves his technique, Adams will become a force that cannot be kept off the field. He has an opportunity to continue to earn snaps over the course of the season, and get used more regularly this year.