Douglas O. Adams (November 3, 1949 – August 9, 1997) was an American football linebacker who played four seasons with the

Cincinnati Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional American football team based in Cincinnati. The Bengals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The c ...

of the National Football League (NFL).

Early life

Adams was the son of Armic and Edna Adams. He attended Xenia High School in Xenia, Ohio. He was named XHS MVP in 1966, MVP in the Western Ohio League in 1966, and selected to WOL, Southwestern, and All-Ohio All-Star teams. He was named 1st Team Scholastic All-American and a High School All-American in 1966. He also ran track. Adams was named to the Xenia Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2011.

College career

Adams played

college football College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States. Unlike most ...

at Ohio State University and started for three seasons at OSU, helping the Buckeyes compile a 27-2 record. He was one of the "Super Sophs," a starting linebacker who helped lead the Buckeyes to the 1968 national title. in Adams' three years, the Buckeyes won two Big 10 titles and played in two Rose Bowls.

NFL career

Adams was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the seventh round of the

1971 NFL Draft The 1971 National Football League draft was held January 28–29, 1971, at the Belmont Plaza Hotel in New York City, New York. The Boston Patriots, who did not officially change their name to New England Patriots until after the draft, used th ...

. After he was cut by the Broncos, he was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals in early September. In his four years with the Bengals, he played in 49 games, starting 10. In 1972, his second season, he intercepted 3 passes, returning them for 44 yards. He retired after the 1974 season at age 25 after battling a knee injury, and he returned to Ohio State to earn a dental degree.

After football

Adams was a dentist with a practice near Mt. Orab, and he resided in Georgetown, both in Brown County, Ohio. He died at age 47 while cycling on August 9, 1997 when he was hit by a driver who had fallen asleep. After his death, to honor Adams, Xenia High School raised funds for the new Doug Adams Fitness Center, which opened in the fall of 2000. His career is memorialized in a display case just outside the room. The Buccaneers play in Doug Adams Stadium.https://www.wdtn.com/news/local-news/xenia-community-schools-tackle-doug-adams-stadium-renovation-project/

References

External links

Just Sports Stats
{{DEFAULTSORT:Adams, Doug 1949 births 1997 deaths Players of American football from Ohio American football linebackers Ohio State Buckeyes football players Cincinnati Bengals players Sportspeople from Xenia, Ohio Road incident deaths in Ohio Cycling road incident deaths