Jackson State freshman quarterback Juwan Adams made an immediate impact when he saw his first action in college, completing a 14-yard touchdown pass to Miquel James in the Tigers’ 35-14 home loss to Grambling State on Saturday.
Adams, a 2016 North Pike graduate, entered the game with about eight minutes left, after starter Brent Lyles and backup LaMontiez Ivy had played.
He went 1 of 3 for 14 yards with one touchdown pass and had five rushes for 28 yards. He said the touchdown drive was for around 45 yards and his very first college pass was for a touchdown.
Playing against Grambling State guaranteed Adams (6 feet, 3 inches, 220 pounds) would be a true freshman and not a redshirt in his first year of college.
“It was very random,” Adams said of playing Saturday. “With eight minutes in the game, (head coach Tony Hughes) called my number. When I went out there, he gave me two QB draws.”
Adams also was expected to keep the ball on the touchdown pass.
“It was a designed run for me,” he said. “We practice all day every week if we get man pressed, we don’t change it up. We want to throw the fade. Just going into the pre-snap read, I saw the receiver. He was one-on-one. I knew he could make the catch. All I had to do was put it out there and he executed, just like we do every day in practice.”
The Tigers went three and out on Adams’ second drive.
While Adams prepares as if he is the starter every week, he saw action much sooner than he anticipated.
“It was kind of a surprise,” he said. “I really didn’t expect it.
“I know myself and I have to prepare like I’m the starter because I never know when my name’s going to get called. I have to prepare just as hard as if I am the starter and as if I am out there with the first team with all that.”
Adams said was glad to have his first game and touchdown pass under his belt.
“It’s certainly overwhelming to go out my first college game and that being a pretty big game on TV and all,” he said. “I guess I was ready for the moment. I was waiting for my time, waiting on my moment. When I did get it, I felt that I could make the best of it. My first collegiate pass for a touchdown – that’s pretty big to me.”
The Tigers (0-3) are at the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Adams said he expects to know where he will be on depth chart for the upcoming game on Friday. He does not have a set time for when he hopes to be the starting quarterback at JSU.
“I feel I’m prepared for any moment or any time,” he said. “If coach does call my name to be the starter, I’ll be prepared when that does happen. Now or later, I will be prepared.”
No matter who is in the game, Adams said the Tigers have to execute and get rid of mental mistakes.
“That’s the key on all levels of offense,” he said. “We have to play with the explosiveness that we know we can. We have a high-powered offense. We just have to execute.”
Adams said the first day of fall camp it hit him that he was in college. He added North Pike and Jackson State have similar offenses with the formation and his ability to run draw plays and throw, but the biggest difference is terminology.
“I’ve gotten more of a grip on the offense at this point,” he said. “Now, it’s really just execution at this point. When I do get in, I’ve slowed it down in my head. Now, it’s just go out there, execute and have fun.”
Adams said former North Pike offensive coordinator Brinson Wall and wide receivers coach Brinson Johnson prepared him for college with the offense they ran. Wall is now South Pike’s head coach and Johnson is South Pike’s offensive coordinator.
Now, Adams said JSU offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Chadwick Germany utilizes his talents well.
Adams is the son of Warren Adams and Kimmie Statham of McComb.
