Gaines Adams, Class of 2002

From Gaines' hometown paper, The Index Journal:

Greenwood native and NFL player Gaines Adams died Sunday morning. He was 26.

Adams, a former Cambridge Academy and Clemson University star, died at 8:21 a.m. Sunday in the emergency room of Self Regional Healthcare.

Greenwood County Coroner Jim Coursey said a preliminary autopsy in Anderson suggested Adams died of cardiac arrest because of an enlarged heart.

Coursey said toxicology results can take about six weeks to process.

Coursey said Adams was "having some health problems” at home, and his girlfriend called an ambulance to take him to the hospital.

Adams’ death was a surprise to those close to him.

"I’m just shocked,” said Ryan Young, who was an assistant at Cambridge when Adams played eight-man football at the small private school. "Somebody called me this morning at about 9 o’clock. ... I don’t think it hit me until around noon when I saw it flash across ESPN.

"I’m still in shock.”

Adams was a three-year starter at Cambridge, where he played for former South Carolina quarterback Steve Taneyhill.

While at Cambridge, Taneyhill implemented a pass-heavy attack - rare in eight-man football - and Adams was the offense’s primary target. During his prep career, Adams totaled 4,394 yards and 65 touchdowns on 158 receptions. Defensively, Adams registered 341 tackles, 10 interceptions and 33 sacks.

A two-time All-State honoree, Adams was a member of the Greenwood Touchdown Club/Index-Journal All-Lakelands team in 2000.

"He was a great kid,” said Walter Roark, who quarterbacked Cambridge’s teams when Adams played wide receiver. "He and I were very, very close. We spent a lot of time together and did a lot of things together. He was just one of the guys.”

From Cambridge, Adams attended Fork Union Military Academy, where he recorded 58 tackles, 22 sacks and two interceptions in 10 games. Pursued by many major college programs, Adams signed with Clemson and was recruited by Ron West, the Tigers’ former bandit ends coach.

"He always had a smile on his face,” said West, now the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Tulsa. "He got better. He became a better worker and a tougher competitor every year. He was just a good leader for our football team. Gaines is a tremendous kid. ... He did things the right way.”

At Clemson, Adams’ transformation into one of the most celebrated pass rushers in college football was complete.

After redshirting his freshman season, Adams’ playing time swelled as the 2003 season progressed. He played a season-high 27 snaps in the Peach Bowl against Tennessee, and he emerged as a regular in the lineup before the 2004 season.

In 2004, Adams recorded eight sacks, second-best on the team. In 2005, he was named a starter and registered 56 tackles and 9 1/2 sacks.

Adams had the opportunity to leave Clemson for NFL riches after his junior season, but West said a promise made to his mother led Adams to return for his senior season.

"Family is huge for him, and it always was,” West said. "One of the reasons he stayed at Clemson for his senior year was because he promised his mom he’d graduate from Clemson. He promised her that the day he signed. ... He wanted to keep his word to her.”

In 2006, Adams’ stock rose significantly. He collected 12 sacks, caused two fumbles and recovered three fumbles. He was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and was an All-American. He finished his career at Clemson with 28 sacks, tying him with Michael Dean Perry for the school record.

"Gaines was always a guy that took care of business,” said former Clemson defensive coordinator Vic Koenning, now the defensive coordinator at Illinois. "He was never a guy that you had to worry about the peripheral stuff. That comes from a good upbringing.

"Obviously, he was a great talent. I hate that I’ve got to say 'was.' I hate that.”

Adams, who was listed as 6-foot-5 and 256 pounds, was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the fourth pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. After 2 1/2 seasons with the Buccaneers, Adams was traded to the Chicago Bears for a second round pick in the 2010 draft.

In his three-year career, Adams recorded 93 tackles, 13 1/2 sacks, three forced fumbles and two interceptions.

While in Tampa, Buccaneers coach Raheem Morris suggested Adams would be considered a "bust” if he didn’t reach double-digits in sacks.

In a story by The Associated Press, Adams appeared to take Morris’ statement as a challenge.

"In football you need that,” Adams said in August. "Players tend to get in their own element and do things that they want to do. They need to be called out sometimes. He’s the coach. Whatever he says, goes.”

West said Adams will be lauded for his performance on the field, but he said most people who came in contact with him would speak glowingly of his personality away from football.

"He’s just a good man,” West said. "You can go to the weight room at Clemson University and ask them what they think about Gaines Adams; they’re going to say nothing but positive things. You can go to the academic learning center, and they’re going to say nothing but positive things. You can go to the training room, and they’re going to say nothing but positive things.

"People on campus loved that boy. I loved that boy. I loved that boy like a son.”