Keith Adams Named First-Team Preseason All-American by Street & Smith

June 22, 2000

Clemson, SC–Clemson linebacker Keith Adams was named a preseason first-team All-American by Street & Smith and Blue Ribbon Magazine on Thursday. Adams was also chosen as the preseason National Defensive Player of the Year by Blue Ribbon.

Adams has been named to just about every preseason All-America team for 2000. As a sophomore he was a first-team All-American according to Football News and a second team choice by Associated Press. In 1999 he led the nation in tackles (186) and tackles for loss (35) and finished second in sacks (16). All three figures were Clemson single season records. He also established a Clemson record for tackles in a game with 27 against South Carolina.

The Clemson team was ranked 18th in the Street & Smith preseason poll. Earlier, Clemson was ranked 13th by Athlon and 16th by Lindy’s. Street & Smith is in its 60th year of publication and is regarded as the dean of the preseason sports magazines.

The publication ranked Nebraska as its favorite to win the national championship, followed by Florida State, Alabama, Miami (FL) and Wisconsin. Michigan is ranked sixth, followed by Kansas State, Georgia, Florida and Virginia Tech. Texas heads up the second 10 with a number 11 ranking, followed by Tennessee, Illinois, Purdue and Southern Cal. Mississippi is ranked 16th, followed by Ohio State, Clemson, Washington and Penn State. Colorado is ranked 21st, followed by Michigan State, Oklahoma, TCU and Southern Miss.