2009
Earned three starts (Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee) in relief of injured QB Larry Smith… Saw action in seven games… Completed 64 of 125 passes for 640 yards, 2 TDs and 3 INTs… Also had 60 rushing yards on 30 carries… Finished career with solid effort at Tennessee, hitting 19 of 35 passes for 174 yards and a TD, earning team[apos]s Offensive Player of the Week honors… Played well subbing for Smith vs. ranked Georgia Tech, hitting 12 of 22 passes for 153 yards and guiding three scoring drives… Served on team[apos]s leadership council.
2008
Finished regular season by completing 74 of 146 passes for 811 yards and five TDs… Played in every game, starting against Georgia, Duke and Florida… Saw limited action in Music City Bowl due to shoulder and knee ailments… Had a career performance in national spotlight game against Auburn, coming off the bench to throw 13-for-23 with two TDs and 153 yards in Commodore victory… Captured Pontiac[apos]s Game Changing Performance of the Week for effort against Auburn, and helped squad to earn Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week… Alternated starts with Chris Nickson in second half of season… Saw action in every game at quarterback… Started against Georgia, Duke and Florida… Went 16-for-32 with two TDs against Georgia, while adding four rushes for 26 yards… Threw for 210 yards and a TD touchdown against Duke… Connected with WR Sean Walker for a 79-yard TD against Duke, career long efforts for both… Passed for 192 yards against Tennessee… Suffered shoulder injury in relief role at Wake Forest.
2007
Provided quality leadership as first-year starting signal caller… Started final six games at quarterback in relief of opening-game starter Chris Nickson… Saw action in every game… Finished year as team passing leader in completions (101), attempts (182), yards (1,043) and touchdowns (9)… Also ended year as team[apos]s third leading rusher with 289 yards and three touchdowns… Passing yardage total ranks sixth all-time by Commodore sophomore QB… Completed 55.5 percent of pass attempts, throwing just six interceptions in 192 attempts… Guided Commodores to road victory over No. 6 South Carolina in first career start, rushing for team-high 84 yards and throwing two touchdown passes… In second start, led Commodores to 24-13 home win over Miami (Ohio)… Completed career-high 20 passes – two for touchdowns – in narrow loss to Kentucky… Threw three touchdown passes at Tennessee – another career high – to give Vanderbilt 15-point lead before Volunteers stormed back late to win… Rushed for two scores at Florida… Completed 13 of 23 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown early in season versus Alabama… Inserted into lineup at Auburn after injury to Nickson… Named team[apos]s Offensive Player of the Week after solid performance in narrow loss to Georgia… Completed seven of 10 passes for 125 yards and a score and rushed for 46 yards vs. Bulldogs… Guided late drive deep into Georgia territory for potential game-winning drive only to have Bulldogs recover fumble by Vanderbilt running back at 8-yard line.
2006
In first year of varsity action, played in every game… Served as the team[apos]s primary holder in placekicking situations and the No. 2 quarterback behind starter Chris Nickson… Played three games at quarterback, including most of the Commodores[apos] road contest at Ole Miss… Subbing for Nickson in Oxford, Adams threw for 176 yards and ran for 51 yards… Also saw action at quarterback in wins over Tennessee State and Duke… Earned team[apos]s Specialist of the Week honors after Florida game.
2005
Redshirted as freshman… Named team[apos]s Offense Scout of the Week after Richmond and Florida games.
High School
Team captain… Led Tulsa Union to 6A state title, avenging early season loss with victory over nationally ranked Jenks HS in finals… Threw for 220 yards in title game… Completed 95 passes for 1,635 yards and 23 TDs for Union team that finished 13-1 and No. 19 nationally… Transferred to Union after junior season at Tulsa Metro Christian… Passed for 5,146 yards and 49 TDs and rushed for 1,063 yards and 11 TDs in three-year career at Metro Christian… Two-time All-State, three-time All-District selection… Named FOX 23[apos]s Offensive Player of the Year… As a standout in track, holds two hurdle records at Metro.
Personal
John Mackenzi Adams… Son of Jeff and Laurie Adams… Dad was head coach at Metro Christian before joining staff at Union HS in 2004… Mom is personal trainer… Has a younger sister… Adams is enrolled in postgraduate courses after completing his undergraduate degree in Human and Organizational Development… Adams is a three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll recipient. Involved in FCA activities… Enjoys playing guitar.
Tulsa Union Head Coach Bill Blankenship:
‘Mackenzi showed great leadership abilities guiding our team to the 6A state championships. You are talking about a young man who is obviously physically talented.
‘But, just as importantly, you have a guy that is really mental tough. Mackenzi demonstrated that in his only season with us. I really believe Vanderbilt is getting a young man that it will be proud of representing the university.’