The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Hall of Honor
- Induction:
- 2021
- Class:
- 1996
A versatile and explosive wide receiver and returner, 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 starter. Adams made an immediate impact at receiver and on kickoff returns as a true freshman in 1992. He also earned letters as a starter in 1993, 1995 and 1996. Adams helped Texas to the 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 pulled off one the greatest upsets in school history 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), and played in the Fiesta and Sugar Bowls. 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. He still ranks among the UT all-time top players in receiving yards, receiving TDs, receptions, and consecutive games with a reception. 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 has served at a number of school throughout the Austin area and beyond since the end of his time playing football.