Adams Named ACC Defensive Player Of The Year

Dec. 3, 1999

CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson linebacker Keith Adams has been named ACC Defensive Player of the Year according to the Associated Press and the ACC Sportswriters Association. Adams, a 5-11, 212-pound sophomore from College Park, GA, won the award in a close vote (35-31) over Florida State lineman Corey Simon.

Adams finished the regular season with 176 tackles, most in the nation, an average of 16.0 per game. He set an ACC record for tackles for loss with 33 and also led the conference with a Clemson record 16 sacks. He had at least one tackle for loss in every game and at least one sack in all but two contests.

Adams also set a Clemson single game record for tackles with 27 against South Carolina in the regular season finale. he set a school record with six tackles for loss and four sacks in Clemson’s victory over Duke. Five times he was named ACC Defensive Player of the Week, a single season record for a Clemson player.

“I can’t tell you how happy I am for Keith Adams,” said Clemson defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Reggie Herring. “He deserves this honor, a great honor. He comes to practice and works hard every day. His motor runs at a high speed on every play in practice and he never takes a play off in games. His statistics for this year are incredible.”

Adams has already been named a first-team All-American by Football News and one of five finalists for that publication’s national Defensive Player of the Year award.