James Adkisson...

[Angry Pope]

Here is some information on Adkisson...

James Adkisson

Position: Wide Receiver
College: South Carolina
Height: 6-4
Weight: 219
Hometown: St. Louis, Mo.


ANALYSIS

Positives: Tall, well-built receiver with excellent linear speed … Has a wide shoulder frame, flat chest, tight waist and long legs … Sudden in his movements, flying down the sidelines, showing explosive acceleration … Has the flexibility and athletic agility to make adjustments on the ball … Shows adequate cut-and-roll-block ability … Long-strider who has the size to defeat press coverage … Will bust through the jam to get into his routes and gets off the line quick and low … Can run tight routes when working the sidelines and is very shifty under coverage to separate … Shows good wiggle after the catch.

Negatives: Durability is a big question as he tends to linger in recovering from injuries … Must get tougher fighting the defensive back for the ball and run at a lower pad level … Needs to do a better job working back for the ball … Should have his vision checked as he seems to lack hand/eye coordination … Gets his hands up late going for the pass and does not make proper body adjustments to the ball … Has the speed that is ideal when going deep, but has to stop running so upright and rounding his cuts … Very shifty and easily defeats coverage on the deep ball, but needs to get tougher eluding defenders in the short area … At times, he just flat-out beats his man, but he frequently lets the smaller defensive backs beat him for the ball … Needs to develop more mental toughness and experience. Seems to lack confidence in his superb athletic ability, similar to Marcus Robinson at this stage … Has great linear speed, but runs too upright and lacks crispness in his routes … Not a natural route runner, as he fights for the ball in traffic and fails to work back for the pigskin.

CAREER NOTES

Called by coach Lou Holtz, "as talented a receiver as I've ever coached," but saw his Gamecock career curtailed by injuries … Has the size, speed and physical tools to be outstanding, lacking only in experience … Finished his career with 28 receptions for 347 yards (12.4 avg.) in three seasons … Began his collegiate career at Kemper Junior College.

2002 SEASON

Had an outstanding preseason and was primed to be the team's primary target, but a knee injury in the Virginia game and subsequent eye (vs. Tennessee) and hamstring (Arkansas) injuries would limit his play to only five games (started vs. New Mexico State, Virginia, Louisiana State and Tennessee. Played vs. Arkansas) … Finished with 9 catches for 112 yards (12.4 avg.) and a touchdown … Had a 5-yard kickoff return and gained 35 yards (11.7 avg.) on 3 carries.

New Mexico State - Scored his first touchdown as a Gamecock on a 44-yard grab.
Virginia - Had 3 receptions for 39 yards and returned a kickoff 5 yards before suffering a knee sprain on the play … The injury would sideline him for the Georgia, Temple, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State and Kentucky contests.
Louisiana State - Came back to make a 1-yard catch.
Tennessee - Gained 27 yards on a reverse.
Arkansas - Snatched 3 passes for 28 yards and ran twice for 8 yards before suffering an eye bruise.

2001 SEASON

Played in the Boise State and Georgia games before being granted a medical redshirt (back) … Made a pair of catches for 8 yards (4.0 avg.).

2000 SEASON

Appeared in 11 games, starting vs. Eastern Michigan, Mississippi State, Alabama and Arkansas … Made 17 catches for 227 yards (13.4 avg.).

JUNIOR COLLEGE

One of the leading receivers in the junior college ranks, playing at Kemper (Boonville, Mo.) Military School in 1999 … Earned junior college All-America honors … Had 59 receptions for 1,375 yards (23.3 avg.) and 7 touchdowns … Against Northeast Oklahoma, he had 7 catches for 256 yards and 2 touchdowns … Started 10 games at Kemper as a freshman (1998).

TRACK

Sprinter for the Gamecocks' track team … Competed at the 2001-02 SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships.

INJURY REPORT

Underwent right thumb surgery (internal fixation of the first metacarpal, on 4/12/00) … Dislocated the middle finger on his left hand (12/17/00) … Redshirted after two games in 2001 due to a back sprain that he first suffered prior to spring drills (2/7/01) … Underwent an MRI on his knee later to determine the extent of an injury suffered vs. Virginia (9/7/02). He injured the knee returning a kickoff. The initial prognosis was that there could be possible ligament damage but results showed only a sprain … Suffered an eye bruise vs. Tennessee (11/2/02) … Strained his hamstring vs. Arkansas (11/9/02).

CAMPUS AGILITY TESTS

4.34 in the 40-yard dash … 3.69 20-yard shuttle … 44-inch vertical jump … 11-foot-6 broad jump … Bench presses 225 pounds 8 times … 265-pound bench press.

HIGH SCHOOL

All-state selection as a kickoff returner at Ritenour (St. Louis, Mo.) High … Played one year of football and also played basketball … Competed on the U.S. Junior Olympic track team.

PERSONAL

Retailing major … Born Jan. 11, 1980 … Resides in St. Louis, Mo.

 

[Angry Pope]

Here is an article from last year which describes him. Notice his Randy Moss reference...

Fond Memories, New Challenge

June 17, 2005

By Stefanie Boewe

For the better part of three months, he could see his newest great love when he looked out of his hotel room window - just a few steps away, it was waiting for him on the opposite side of the street. Whenever Oakland Raiders wide receiver James Adkisson left his temporary home in Cologne, Germany, he walked over to the train station from where his beloved tram train would take him to his desired destination - such as the practice facility or downtown Cologne - within minutes, every day, at any time, about every five minutes.

"Getting around is the point I enjoyed most about Germany," said Adkisson. "I will miss the train system, I am most impressed with it. Not matter where you wanted to go, without wondering about gas prices or maps you just got on a train and got there easily."

Adkisson particularly enjoyed the ride to the opposite river bank from where he liked to look at the old town and its distinctive landmark which is enthroned above the city: The Cologne Cathedral. Germany's best-known church overlooks the whole town because Cologne was set up in an unusual way - no downtown building is allowed to reach the same height as the breathtaking Gothic Cathedral, and so the impressive basilica offers a wonderful and even moving sight from almost every spot in Cologne. "Going across the river Rhine and looking at the cathedral was beautiful in the evenings," said the 25-year-old Adkisson.

His arrival in Europe was shocking, though - in a positive way. "Like many Americans I was ignorant to it all and prejudiced before I came here," said Adkisson who had left the United States for the first time when he got on the plane that flew him into Cologne, Germany in March. "So when I first got here, I was surprised - people were really nice, and they wanted to know all about you." In the end, Adkisson only found one single issue to criticize, "Everybody seems to smoke over here. But other than that I have no complaints - I even like the food."

However, the 6'4", 230-pound receiver looked forward to getting back home. He missed his lovely three-year-old daughter Kaya and his girlfriend Leena dearly. "Halfway through the season I kind of hit a wall when I was ready to see my family," stated Adkisson. "But I pushed myself through it."

"This was a great
opportunity. Even
though I'm leaving
Germany, Germany
will never leave me."

- Raiders WR James Adkisson

Now Adkisson, who started for the Centurions in the NFL Europe League and added 11 catches for 156 yards and a touchdown to push Cologne to a 6-4 record, and was re-assigned to the eventual World Bowl champion Amsterdam Admirals just prior to the championship game, is looking forward to entering training camp with the Silver and Black rather than looking for a break. "I hope to get a couple of mini-camps prior to training camp. I really don't want to get out of shape," said Adkisson who had spent time of the 2003 and 2004 seasons on the Raiders practice squad. While he is well aware of the fact that he started training camp with NFL Europe in early March and might not get a chance to rest his body through the end of the regular NFL season in January, he won't rest before the Raiders' training camp. "Overall, it is a long season of 10 months," admitted Adkisson. "But everybody outside of football has only about two weeks of vacation a year, so everybody outside of football works even more. So a season of 10 months is still a blessing."

While being allocated to Germany Adkisson worked on his mental strength as well as on taking over responsibility on the field. Still, he is not satisfied with his achievements. "I wanted to get in shape and that I did. But I also wanted to be more productive and become a leader for the group of receivers, and I didn't get near where I wanted to get."

But back in Oakland Adkisson hopes to learn from the best there is, Randy Moss, who even used to me a role model for Adkisson. "That will be very interesting. I will be trying to take things from his game and put it into mine," said Adkisson who graduated from South Carolina. "A few years ago in college I was asked this. 'If you could have dinner with an NFL player, who would it be?' Randy Moss was my answer."

Interestingly enough, Centurions head coach Peter Vaas believes that Adkisson has similar physical abilities as Moss. "James is big, fast and he has good hands. He has all those physical abilities, he is a world of talent, said Vaas. "He only needs to mature mentally and to concentrate on every play. But over the past few weeks I have seen him developing a much better work ethic."

Adkisson has learned his lesson, and he is willing to keep on working. "This was a great opportunity I am grateful for," said Adkisson. "Even though I'm leaving Germany, Germany will never leave me." Sweeter words about the NFL Europe League and its goals have hardly ever been spoken.

 

[Angry Pope]

A minicamp reference....

ADKISSON CATCHES ON: For three days anyway, tight end James Adkisson seemed to be as much a primary receiver as Randy Moss or Porter.

On and off the Raiders practice squad since 2003, Adkisson was an undrafted free agent with a pedigree owner Al Davis loves — he was an oversized (6-foot-5, 230 pounds) wide receiver with track experience and a willingness to move to tight end.

Adkisson received a late promotion to the 53-man roster in 2005 but did not play. Although officially listed as a wide receiver on the Raiders Web site, Adkisson is now a 250-pound tight end who was a frequent target over the past three days.

"I've been under the radar for three years, practice squad and all that, and I'm learning day by day, watching big Courtney (Anderson) and Randal (Williams)," Adkisson said. "The way this offense is geared, it's much more tight-end friendly."

Coach Art Shell has taken notice.

"He has the ability to catch the ball, and we all know he can run," Shell said. "He has to learn to block better, and that's improving."

 

[Angry Pope]

Working hard...

"We don't cover decoys," Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha sneers to tight end and teammate James Adkisson as the two trot off the field, Adkisson having just biffed on a pass in the end zone. "You ain't gonna catch it; we ain't gonna cover you."

Adkisson's foul-up is not for lack of effort. During a passing drill later that afternoon, he momentarily leaves the receiving line to puke his guts out at midfield.

 

[Angry Pope]

From Adkisson's Pro Day...

Dave Te Thomas reports, South Carolina WR James Adkisson checked in at 6:45-230, ran 4.34 with an incredible 46-inch vertical during his Pro Day.

 

[Angry Pope]

From college...

2002 PRESEASON – Showed flashes of his outstanding talent during spring practice ... Has the size, speed and physical tools to be outstanding ... Coach Holtz believes he is as talented a receiver that he's ever coached ... Gamecocks are hoping he steps forward and has a banner senior season ... Could be a difference-maker on offense ... Heads into preseason camp as one of the starters at wide receiver ... In the Spring Game, he had four catches for 81 yards, including a 41-yard touchdown reception.

 

[Angry Pope]

Adkisson played one year of high school football and also played basketball. He was first-team all-state as a kick returner in high school.

In college he was in track as both a jumper and sprinter.

 

[Angry Pope]

Here is a photo of Adkisson...


I am the one with the ball...