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Rising College Football Star Brandon Adams Dies Suddenly at Age 21

Tiffany Meier
By Tiffany Meier
March 25, 2019Sports News
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Rising College Football Star Brandon Adams Dies Suddenly at Age 21
Anree Saint-Amour #94, Brandon Adams #90, Patrick Gamble #91 and Rod Rook-Chungong #41 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets tackle T.J. Logan #8 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during the game at Kenan Stadium, North Carolina, Nov. 5, 2016. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Georgia Tech defensive tackler Brandon Adams has died at age 21, just hours after being named the Player to Watch by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, according to new reports.

Adams, a senior at Georgia Tech majoring in business administration, died Saturday, March 23 in Atlanta, the university announced in a news release. No cause of death or further details have been released.

“Our entire Georgia Tech football family is heartbroken by the news of Brandon’s passing,” head football coach at Georgia Tech Geoff Collins said in a statement. “In the short time that I have had the privilege and honor of knowing Brandon, I admired and respected him, first and foremost as a terrific human being, but also as an outstanding teammate and leader.”

Adams died hours after the Atlanta Journal-Constitution ran a profile on him as the player to watch in 2019.

A native of Brentwood, Tenn., Adams was a three-sport star at Brentwood Academy, playing football, wrestling, as well as track and field, according to Georgia Tech. Before going to college, he served as captain for Brentwood Academy’s football and track and field teams, both of which won state championships during his senior year (2015-2016).

At Georgia Tech, he played defensive tackler for the Yellow Jackets. Adams played in 33 games, recording 41 career tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles as an interior defensive lineman, according to Georgia Tech.

“At 6-foot-2 and 325 pounds, Adams was a force in the interior, often requiring double-teams to keep him from pushing centers into the pocket,” the Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote. “Adams also showed quickness for his size, was able to pursue plays along the line of scrimmage and played with effort.”

Adams was with the Yellow Jackets for three seasons and was just coming off the best year of his career. In 2018, he played in 13 games and had 24 tackles, including five tackles for a loss, and two forced fumbles, which were all career highs.

“On behalf of the entire Georgia Tech athletics family, I offer my deepest condolences to Brandon’s family and friends, including his past and present coaches, and his brothers in the Georgia Tech football family,” Director of Athletics at Georgia Tech Todd Stansbury said in a statement.

“As we mourn the loss of such an incredible young life, we are also here to support Brandon’s family and friends, his past and present coaches and his brothers within the Georgia Tech football family in any way that we can. Please join us in keeping Brandon and everyone who loved him in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time,” he added.

Adams collapsed at a house near campus, police said, according to AJC. Friends took Adams to Emory University Hospital Midtown, where later he was pronounced dead.

The medical examiner’s office will conduct an autopsy starting Monday, March 25 to determine cause of death, reported AJC.

“This is heart breaking,” GT Football Strength wrote about Adams on Twitter. “You positively impacted so many and we are truly going to miss you. God Bless your family. Love you B.”

Georgia Tech alum Desmond Branch also wrote on Twitter, “This man… is one of the best, genuine, loving and overall happy people I have ever met. Always had a smile on his face, got along with everyone. There is not 1 person that would wish ill on this man. He was so damn close to his dream. We lost LEGEND in me and my teammates eyes.”

Adams is survived by his mother, Lisa Greer, his stepfather, Reginald Woods, and his sister, Rian, according to AJC.

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