Adams is FCS ‘Freshman of the Year’

He split time at quarterback, but that was enough to impress the College Sporting News, as Eastern Washington University freshman Vernon Adams joined four other Eagles on the “Fabulous 50” NCAA Football Championship Subdivision All-America team.

Adams was selected as CSN’s Freshman of the Year after sharing the quarterback position with transfer Kyle Padron. Besides Adams, four other Eagles were selected to the All-America squad – wide receiver Brandon Kaufman, offensive tackle Will Post, junior cornerback T.J. Lee and senior kicker Jimmy Pavel.

Including honorable mention selections and player of the year winners, there were three coaches and 61 players selected to the College Sporting News “Fabulous 50” squad. The players represented 43 teams and 12 conferences, with EWU leading the way with five honorees. Fifteen other teams had multiple players chosen. The Big Sky Conference surpassed all other leagues with 14 selections.

Adams ranked fourth in FCS in passing efficiency (160.80) in 2012, and was the only freshman in the top 24 of the rankings. His efficiency rating also ranked fourth all-time in school history. In nine games as a starter and three as a sub, he completed 60.9 percent of his passes for 1,961 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

He concluded his freshman season by throwing for a school-record six touchdown passes in EWU’s 45-42 loss to Sam Houston State in the semifinals of the FCS Playoffs. Adams completed 14-of-26 passes for 364 yards – all after intermission – as EWU scored 42 points in the second half to rally from a 35-0 halftime deficit and nearly pull off an improbable rally.

Kaufman, Post, Lee and Pavel have all earned All-America honors previously this season, joining senior defensive end Jerry Ceja.

This is the second time Kaufman has been selected to the “Fabulous 50” squad, earning a spot after his sophomore season when EWU won the 2010 NCAA Division I title. Nicholas Edwards, a senior wide receiver this past season, was selected to the squad a year ago, and quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell received honorable mention.

Adams will join Lee as EWU’s 2012 All-Americans who will return for the 2013 season. Kaufman, as well as Padron, have elected not to return for their senior seasons and will pursue professional opportunities instead.