Adams is all business on the line for Lions

Fun-loving lineman knows when to get serious

— Assistant coach Duke Mobley was looking for a volunteer punt returner during a recent Gravette football practice when Marcus Adams raised his hand and offered to help - only to draw a big laugh.

It’s just one of the many ways the senior tries to keep his teammates loose, especially since Adams is an offensive lineman.

“I don’t want everybody to get too serious,” he said. “When people start getting too serious, they start getting nervous or trying too hard and mess up. If everybody has fun, they play better, I think.”

Adams (5-foot-10, 280 pounds) is the Lions’ threeyear starter at left guard, so coach Bill Harrelson has grown accustomed to anything Adams does to make practice a little more lighthearted. Harrelson even admitted there have been occasions when he has to let his lineman know when it’s time to get serious.

It’s at those moments when Adams’ demeanor makes a sudden and dramatic turn.

“The good thing about Marcus is he loves to play football,” Harrelson said. “He’ll play that left guard position until you have to tell him we’re going to get somebody else in there.

“I’m talking scout team, first team, second team - whatever it may be. He plays hard every snap, andhe knows what to do as long as he’s been in that spot.”

Adams, one of three returning starters from last year’s offensive unit, had to be just as serious when it came to summer workouts. He gained about 30 pounds during the offseason, and he knew he needed to get down to his playing weight.

He was present for 24 of the 26 morning workout sessions Harrelson scheduled throughout the summer. Adams was also among a group of current and former players that spent time running on the Lions Stadium track at night.

“I got big and got slow, so I started running,” Adams said. “We’ve been lifting weights, but I’ve been trying to get faster and get in better shape.

“It’s been working pretty good. I feel like our team is in better shape right now than it has been in a while.”

Adams’ main role will be on the offensive line, but Harrelson has already told his senior to be prepared to play noseguard. That will particularly be the case when Gravette needs somebody to plug a gap near the goal line.

No matter what the situation may be, Harrelson knows the senior will be ready to go.

“Sometimes, I will be calling for a scout team, and Marcus will be there standing by himself,” Harrelson said. “He’s alwayswilling to do something, like try to run a punt or run the guard-around.

“But he’s very valuablefor us on the offensive line, so I will say his chances of running the ball are slim to none.”

Sports, Pages 10 on 08/22/2012