RIVIERA BEACH – A leader on the field, in the classroom, and in the community, Aaron Adams has set the bar relatively high.
As the player face of Suncoast’s football program this past season, the now-Chargers alum earned the highest form of respect from head coach Jimmy Clark. This is what happens when someone displays a level of consistency and character that positively affects everyone around him.
“Aaron was like having another coach on the field,” Clark said. “He was the most reliable leader I’ve ever had. I wish I could coach him every year. Replacing him will be impossible. He’s just a phenomenal person. He is without question the finest leader I’ve ever coached in my 20-year career.”
Case in point: In Week’s 41-0 home victory over Village Academy, Adams registered 200+ combined yards (rushing and receiving) while scoring 4 touchdowns in the process. But his eyes, what he did wasn’t all that important.
“My best memory from that game was me being in sidelines and watching the young guys get into the game and play for the first time,” the 5-foot-9, 165-pound athlete said. “It was great actually being able to cheer on everyone.”
In 10 games played, Adams would go on to record the following statistics:
•1,100+ rushing yards
•350+ receiving yards
•300+ kick/punt return yards
•12 total touchdowns
•50+ tackles
•2 interceptions
•1 fumble recovery
Suncoast finished this past season with a 5-5 overall record.
“My senior season wasn’t what I was dreaming of, but it was nothing short of fun and memorable,” Adams said. “We set the tone for the underclassmen and left behind a great legacy. It was a great turnaround year from my junior year.”
Adams will take his experiences at Suncoast and build upon them at Army. He made the decision to commit there on June 19, 2019, while going on to sign his letter of intent with the institution on Feb. 5.
“I understood that after graduating from the United States Military Academy, I would have endless connections and opportunities available to me,” said Adams, who will be reporting to duty for the Army during the period of July 12-14 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“As for the signing, I was really impressed with the facilities and the coaching staff,” Adams continued. “The players reached out to me before signing day and made me feel as if I was joining the brotherhood before stepping foot into the campus. I knew then that West Point was the place I needed to be. The family atmosphere and the desire to win is what I love the most about West Point, and I can’t wait to contribute.”
Adams (No. 79 overall player; Class of 2020) reflected on how he and his now-fellow Suncoast alums had to deal with graduating earlier today (June 4) in a virtual setting.
“It’s not the graduation that I expected or dreamt of,” Adams said. “But with the circumstances, I’m happy that the school district has found a way to celebrate us seniors.”
Perhaps the most memorable takeaway for Adams will be the relationships he developed over time with his fellow graduating teammates at Suncoast.
“They’re the greatest group of guys I’ve ever been around,” Adams said. “They’ve been there for me on and off the field. I will always have a special place in my heart for those guys and wish them all the best. The greatest memories happened in the locker room before games and after practices. I will always love those guys.”
PHOTO CREDITS: Army Football and Gene Nardi
