Rodney Adams wakes up every morning at 6:30 ready to take the field for two-a-days.
The Florida wide receiver commit is spending the summer training and competing in Austin, Texas, representing Team USA for the IFAF Under-19 World Championship.
The top-ranked USA squad routed eighth-seeded American Samoa 27-6 in the opening round Saturday. Adams takes on No. 5 seed Austria in the semifinals July 4 at 9 p.m.
A self-described quiet guy, the four-star prospect is not shy about his goals.
“My dream is to be very successful in college, come out with my degree and be a top-10 draft pick,” he said.
Adams couldn’t be happier for the opportunity of suiting up for the Gators a few hours from his St. Petersburg, Fla., home. The chance for his family to watch every home game in the Swamp was a selling point for Florida.
“I’m very excited — going to a great school, great coaching staff, and they produce great players to the NFL,” Adams said. “It’s a very cool honor for me to be going to the University of Florida.”
Adams plans on visiting Gainesville again for the annual Friday Night Lights camp July 27.
Tight ends coach Derek Lewis and wide receivers coach Aubrey Hill are keeping in touch with the 6-foot-1, 166-pound playmaker.
Since the summer started, Adams said no other school has been in contact with him as much as Florida. The Army All-American does hold 10 offers from schools including Alabama and Florida State.
Football almost didn’t happen for the player who calls himself “explosive.”
“When I was younger, my main sport was basketball until my dad forced me to play football,” Adams said. “After my first year of playing football, I just started loving it more than basketball.”
His love for the hardwood still exists today. The receiver with a 40.5-inch vertical jump plays basketball whenever he can.
Adams, a LeBron James fan, took to heart how the three-time NBA MVP clinched his first championship in June.
“No one can bring you down,” he said. “Keep doing what you do best and follow your goals. Like [Robert Griffin III] said, ‘Go catch your dream.’”
