WVU DE Coach Deke Adams Makes No Excuses, Demands Physicality

As the last key addition to the WVU football staff, defensive ends coach Deke Adams knows the importance of his role. And in keeping with the attitude of his head coach, he’s not making any excuses.

Adams is being asked to coach players he didn’t recruit in an effort to create an imposing pass rush.

“Well, I think they’re doing a good job. This is week four week for me. I haven’t been here long. I got in late and didn’t have any say so really in the recruiting process of them. So coming in, they were getting to know me, me getting to know them,” said Adams about his experience in West Virginia so far – he was brought in by Rich Rodriguez when Larry Knight abruptly left for Georgia only a few weeks after being hired by WVU.

For Adams, it’s about making sure his players are “trudging away every day” and trying to get better. Because despite not recruiting his players, Adams is tasked with coaching them to success anyway. At least at this point, he seems happy with what he’s seeing throughout the spring period.

“I think we have a lot of talent in the room, but I still think we a long way to go,” added Adams to make it clear he’s far from satisfied as well.

Fitting in with Rodriguez’s “Hard Edge” mentality, Adams demands physicality above all else.

“You have to play hard. You have to play physical. And that’s the game of football. And if a kid really doesn’t want to do that, I’m not sure he’s going to be a really good player anyway.”

Adams was announced as the latest addition to the WVU staff on March 2. He brings a long track record of success from a background that mostly includes time as part of multiple SEC programs.

“Deke brings an extensive background in developing and coaching defensive linemen,” Rodriguez said about hiring Adams. “He is an outstanding addition to the Mountaineer coaching staff, and I want to welcome him, his wife, Alexis, and his two sons to our football program.”

Adams comes to West Virginia after serving as the defensive line coach at Arkansas each of the past four seasons. The Razorbacks recorded 22 sacks last season with Adams on staff. Arkansas’ highest total with Adams came in his first year there in 2022 when they registered 42.

Prior to Arkansas, Adams has also coached at Ole Miss, Mississippi State, South Carolina, helping to mentor 2014 No. 1 NFL draft pick Jadeveon Clowney, North Carolina and Southern Miss. Adams’ Gamecocks front also featured defensive tackle Kelcy Quarles, who earned first-team All-SEC and All-America honors. Quarles and Clowney became the first South Carolina duo since 1984 to earn All-America status in the same season.

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