Kyle Adams has had a long and strange career in West Lafayette. He played extensively as a true freshman, but as a junior in 2008 he had to sit with an injury. Since then Adams has been a steady player that hasn't out up huge numbers, but has still been a big part of the offense.He is also one of the best human beings on the team.

Kyle Adams - Sr. (5)

Hometown: Austin, TX (Westlake HS)

Tight End

6'4", 251 pounds

2010 Projection: Starter at Tight End

First off, we have to talk about Adams' off the field accomplishments. The management major is one of the leading players in terms of community service. He has twice won the Noble E. Kizer Award for having the top team GPA for a year. He has also twice been an Academic All-Big Ten selection. Even better, he spent the last two offseasons not on campus trying to get bigger, stronger, and faster, but in Haiti building houses on a missions trip. He is likely going back right now. His father, a former Purdue rower, and mother, a former Purdue volleyball player, instilled some solid values in this kid.

I will now pause to applaud Kyle Adams, and you should too.

Compared to his off the field accomplishments, what he has done on the field for our entertainment is merely gravy. We got him out of Westlake High in Austin, TX, which is the same high school hat gave us another great human being in Drew Brees. As a freshman he caught six passes for 58 yards and a touchdown in 2006. His touchdown was on a nifty trick play where Desmond Tardy threw it to him against Hawaii. In 2007 he improved, catching 8 passes for 109 yards and two scores. He looked to be in line for a big year in 2008, especially with Dustin Keller gone in front of him, but a freak play cost him the season.

Adams fielded the opening kickoff of the year against Northern Colorado, but injured his knee on that play and his season was done the moment it started. He returned last year and was limited somewhat, but still had 29 catches for 249 yards. I expect he will be a co-starter this year with Jeff Lindsay as Purdue looks to get the tight end more involved in the offense.