The first thing you notice about Josh Adams is his size – 6-2, 213 pounds. Running backs that size don't come along very often. The next thing you notice is a highly productive career at Notre Dame, where Adams racked up 3,201 rushing yards, 20 touchdowns, and averaged a whopping 6.7 yards per carry for the Fighting Irish.
All of that didn't add up to Adams being selected in the 2018 NFL Draft – although many pre-draft expectations were that Adams would be taken -- but he signed with the Eagles immediately afterward and is grateful and humble for the opportunity.
"I'm blessed to be here," said Adams, who hails from Warrington, Pennsylvania. He starred at Central Buck South High School before enrolling at Notre Dame. "It was only about a 45-minute drive for me to get down here and I'm still home, but it feels like I'm part of something different, something bigger."
Adams has stiff competition in a running backs room that has the likes of Jay Ajayi, Corey Clement, and Darren Sproles. He wants to bring his game, his "something different," so every rep on the practice field is going to be a plus. Adams has a foot injury that kept him off the field this weekend, but he doesn't think it's going to be a long-term problem.
"Sooner rather than later, hopefully," Adams said when asked about his timetable for getting back on the field.
In the meantime, Adams is in his playbook and learning the offense, very well aware that all it takes is an opportunity to make it in the league. Clement is a great example. Not drafted coming out of the University of Wisconsin a year ago, Clement was an integral part of the Eagles' offense last season and he starred in the Super Bowl LII victory with four receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown.
"I'm here to help the room," Adams said. "The best thing I have is having those guys to learn from and try to better my game. I'm just going to go in there and work and do my best to try and help the team. I'm having a lot of fun learning new things, trying to pick the playbook up. I'm having a blast."
Adams signed with the Eagles after the draft largely because of the pre-draft relationship created with the team, particularly assistant head coach/running backs Duce Staley. The Eagles paid attention to Adams, got to know him, and clearly made an impression.
"He was very detailed. He grilled me a little bit but I could tell he was about his business and I learned a lot," Adams said. "Not only about how I can be better, but about the relationship between coach and player."
Until he's healthy, Adams will do his learning in the classroom and in the weight room, hopeful that he can show the Eagles what they want to see to bust into a crowded picture in the offensive backfield.
