The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Hall of Honor
- Induction:
- 2021
- Class:
- 1996
One of the most versatile and explosive wide receivers, kickoff and punt returners in Longhorn history, Mike Adams was among the first in a record-setting run of wideouts over the past few decades at Texas. A four-year letterman and four-year starter who missed the 1994 season with a knee injury, Adams made an immediate splash as a starter at receiver and on kickoff returns as a true freshman in 1992. He also earned letters as a starter in 1993, 1995 and 1996. In his last two seasons, he helped Texas to the final Southwest Conference Championship in 1995 and the first-ever Big 12 Championship in 1996. Adams and Texas snapped a 31-game Texas A&M home winning streak in 1995 to secure the SWC crown and he and his teammates, as three touchdown underdogs, pulled off one the greatest upsets in school history by knocking off No. 3-ranked and two-time defending National Champion Nebraska, 37-27, to win the inaugural Big 12 Championship game in 1996. Those teams went a combined 18-7-1 (13-2 in conference), finished the year ranked No. 14 (1995) and No. 23 (1996) and played in the Fiesta and Sugar Bowls. It marked the first time since 1972-73 that Texas went to back-to-back New Year’s Day games. A three-time All-Conference selection (1993, 1995-96), Adams earned USA Today freshman All-American honors in 1992 and was Texas’ Team MVP in 1993. He finished his career as UT’s all-time leading receiver in yards (3,032), touchdowns (16) and receptions (177), was the school’s all-purpose yards leader (5,822) and set other school records, including consecutive games with a reception (26), career 100-yard receiving games (9), and career combined kickoff and punt return yards (2,651). The only player in school history with more than 1,000 career punt return yards (1,060) and more than 1,000 career kickoff return yards (1,591), he is one of only three Longhorns to surpass 3,000 career receiving yards all time. Only 1998 Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams (7,206) and 2004 Doak Walker Award winner Cedric Benson (6,161) have more career all-purpose yards than Adams. He still ranks among the UT all-time top seven in receiving yards (third), receiving TDs (sixth), receptions (seventh) and consecutive games with a reception (seventh) and averaged 17.2 yards per touch during his time at Texas. Adams was selected with the 223rd overall pick in the seventh round of the 1997 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played in only six games as a rookie before a knee injury ended his NFL career. He signed with the BC Lions (CFL) in 2000, when he played in eight regular season games. Adams earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Learning and Development from UT (2009) and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University (2011). Now a high school administrator and coach, Adams is currently an assistant principal and passing game coordinator for the football team at Canyon High School in New Braunfels. Prior to that he was at Hutto High School, spent time at three Austin high schools (Reagan, Regents, Vandegrift) as well as nearby Georgetown and Manor. In addition, Adams worked at East Central High School in San Antonio during his 14 years in education and coaching.
