WVU Football Announces Deke Adams as DE Coach

The WVU football program announced Deke Adams as their new defensive ends coach on Monday. Initially reported to be joining Rich Rodriguez on Feb. 23, Adams 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 in a statement. “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 along with Clowney. Quarles and Clowney became the first South Carolina duo since 1984 to earn All-America status in the same season.

In 2024, Arkansas was among the top half of the SEC in rushing defense while ranking in the top 40 nationally. The Razorbacks also ranked in the top 40 nationally in third-down conversion percentage defense with a mark of .359. Adams tutored defensive lineman Landon Jackson, who led the Razorbacks with 6.5 sacks while tying for the team-lead in tackles for loss with (9.5) while totaling a career-high 49 tackles to go along with nine quarterback hurries, three pass breakups, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble on his way to earning Second-Team All-SEC honors.

Under Adams’ tutelage, Landon Jackson blossomed into one of the nation’s best pass rushers in 2023. Jackson entered his junior season with 3.5 career tackles for loss and three sacks before earning First-Team All-SEC recognition from the league’s coaches and second-team honors from the Associated Press after leading Arkansas in tackles for loss (13.5) and sacks (6.5) while racking up 44 total tackles. Jackson’s 13.5 tackles for loss ranked sixth in the SEC and his 6.5 sacks were good for 12th.

The defensive line helped the Hogs give up only 357.2 yards per game, the lowest average per game since 2014 when the Arkansas defense surrendered only 323.4 yards per game. The difference was nearly a full yard per play improvement in 2023 compared to the 2022 season – 5.67 ypp in 2023 compared to 6.46 ypp in 2022.

Adams’ first defensive line at Arkansas helped the defense break the school record for sacks with 42 in 2022. The Razorbacks’ defensive line provided 22 of the team’s 42 sacks led by Jordan Domineck’s 7.5 sacks in his lone year with the program.

Adams has helped develop six NFL draft selections, including a pair of first round picks. During his first stop at North Carolina, he coached All-American defensive tackle Sylvester Williams in 2012. Williams was selected 28th overall by the Denver Broncos in the 2013 NFL Draft. The Tar Heels ranked third in the ACC that season with 97 tackles for loss with Adams’ group responsible for 40 of them. Williams and Kareem Martin were one of the ACC’s most dominant defensive line duos, combining for 29 TFLs. Martin ranked third in the conference with 15.5 and Williams finished sixth with 13.5.

Before his first stop at North Carolina, Adams spent three seasons (2009-11) at his alma mater Southern Miss as defensive line coach for Head Coach Larry Fedora. Among the players he developed were first-team All-Conference USA defensive end Cordarro Law and second-round 2013 NFL Draft pick Jamie Collins. During his first season back in Hattiesburg, he coached a young group that helped the Golden Eagles finish the season ranked 18th nationally in sacks and 24th in tackles for loss after finishing 93rd and 68th, respectively, in those two categories the previous season.

In 2011, Adams’ helped the Golden Eagles to the Conference USA championship and a 12-win season capped by a Hawaii Bowl victory over Nevada. His front four allow led the effort to allow only 112.6 rushing yards per game and rank 22nd nationally.

Prior to Southern Miss, he coached linebackers at Louisiana-Monroe while also serving as the coordinator of player development. He spent the 2006 and 2007 seasons at FCS level North Carolina A&T. Adams was elevated to interim defensive coordinator during his first season at North Carolina A&T after two games before earning the job on a permanent basis headed into the 2007 season. He coached the Aggies’ defensive line in 2006 and took over the linebackers in 2007 in addition to his coordinator duties the following season.

He coached in the junior college ranks at Pearl River (Miss.) Community College from 1998-2002, serving as the linebackers coach during his first three seasons before being named co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach in addition to his role as recruiting coordinator in 2001.
Adams began his coaching career in 1997 as the defensive line coach at FCS level Jacksonville (Ala.) State.

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