Dre Brown Director of Player Personnel | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Dre Brown Director of Player Personnel | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Illinois offensive lineman Isaiah Adams has been selected by the Arizona Cardinals as the 71st overall pick in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. This marks Adams as the second player from Illinois to be drafted this year, following defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton, who was picked 36th overall by Washington.
Adams, a two-time All-Big Ten honoree, played two seasons at Illinois after transferring from Garden City Community College. During his time with the team, he started all 25 games and demonstrated versatility on the offensive line. In 2022, he contributed to an offensive line that became a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award and helped lead Illinois to the ReliaQuest Bowl.
Throughout his career at Illinois, Adams started games in multiple positions: left guard and left tackle in 2022 and right tackle along with left guard in 2023. His performance earned him a national guard ranking of No. 29 and No. 5 in the Big Ten according to PFF for his play in 2022.
Isaiah Adams is now among a select group of Illini players drafted by Arizona, joining Simeon Rice (1996) and Will Davis (2009). He is also noted as being the highest-drafted Illini offensive lineman since Jeff Allen's selection by Kansas City Chiefs in 2012.
Overall, Adams is recognized as the 255th draft pick from Illinois since records began in 1937 and becomes Bret Bielema's tenth top-100 offensive lineman during his coaching tenure.
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