UNC Loses DL Coach to South Carolina

Tar Heel defensive line coach Deke Adams is leaving the program and will take a similar position at South Carolina according to Andrew Carter of the N&O.

During a phone interview on Monday night, Adams described as “difficult” the decision to leave UNC.

“I just felt like this was a family decision and it was the right time for a move,” he said.

Adams played at Southern Miss and joined Fedora’s staff there in 2009. When Fedora became the head coach at UNC, Adams made the move to Chapel Hill, too. He earned a reputation for being one of the top recruiters on Fedora’s staff.

Adams said he would not re-recruit unsigned players he has already successfully recruited to UNC.

“That’s the end of it,” he said, referring to honoring commitments those players have made to the Tar Heels.

At South Carolina, Adams will work closely with Jadeveon Clowney, the Gamecocks’ defensive end who’s likely to enter next season in the Heisman Trophy discussion. Clowney became something of a national spectacle after his jarring tackle of Michigan running back Vincent Smith in the Outback Bowl.

It is routine to see assistant coaches switch jobs after National Signing Day. For Adams to do so two weeks prior could impact recruiting and is not a good look. While Adams says he will not re-recruit unsigned players to South Carolina, that won't stop a player who enjoys a good rapport with Adams from looking elsewhere own volition, including players already committed. Among unsigned players, UNC still has a couple of irons in the fire where quality defensive linemen are concerned. One is Carl Lawson out of Milton HS(GA) and the other is current Mississippi commit Jarran Reed. Reed was in Chapel Hill over the weekend for an official visit so the timing of Adams' departure could not have been worse.

Reports indicate Larry Fedora was "shocked" by Adams departure seeing they had been together for a number of years. I also imagine Fedora was quite unhappy with a position coach and recruiter leaving at such a crucial time with prospects twisting in the wind. For Adams, passing up an SEC job and the chance to coach Jadveon Clowney for a season is a tough one to pass on.UNC will see Adams and his defensive line when the Heels open the season at Columbia in August.