Deke Adams (2025) - Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame

Deke Adams

Induction:
2025

Deke Adams (Football, 1990-1994)
Outside Linebacker | Meridian, Miss. | Meridian HS

Deke Adams, a member of five football squads from 1990 to 1994, earned letters in his final three seasons under head coach Jeff Bower. Adams worked his way up the depth chart after redshirting his first campaign, eventually taking over as the everyday starter at outside linebacker in the 1994 season. He tallied 77 career tackles, 42 solo tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack and one interception.

As a senior in 1994, he started in all 11 games for the Golden Eagles while recording 34 tackles, 12 solo tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack. After his redshirt season, Southern Miss posted a 20-23-1 record in his four years playing and finished with a winning 6-5 record in 1994.

After earning his degree, the Meridian, Miss., native began his coaching career in 1997 at Jacksonville State. Through 29 seasons as a coach, he has spent time at Jacksonville State (1997, defensive line), Pearl River Community College (1998-00, linebackers; 2001-02, co-defensive coordinator and secondary), Ouachita Baptist (2002-04, defensive line; 2004-05 defensive coordinator and defensive line), North Carolina A&T (2006, defensive coordinator and defensive line; 2007, defensive coordinator and linebackers), ULM (2008, linebackers), North Carolina (2012, defensive line; 2017-18, defensive line), South Carolina (2013-15, defensive line), East Carolina (2016, defensive line), Mississippi State (2019, defensive line), Ole Miss (2020, defensive line), Florida International (2021, defensive line) and Arkansas (2022-present, defensive line).

Adams spent three seasons from 2009 to 2011 at his alma mater with Coach Larry Fedora, helping Southern Miss to the 2011 Conference USA Championship. During his career, Adams has seen seven former players drafted into the NFL, including Jadeveon Clowney (South Carolina, 2014 1/1) Sylvester Williams (North Carolina, 2013 1/28), Jamie Collins (Southern Miss, 2013 2/52), Kareem Martin (North Carolina, 2014 3/84), Jason Strowbridge (North Carolina, 2020 5/154), Marquiss Spencer (Mississippi State, 2021 7/253) and Landon Jackson (Arkansas, 2025 3/72); with three former players earning All-American honors.

Deke is married to former Lady Eagle Basketball star and fellow M-Club Hall of Fame Inductee Alexis Hall Adams. The couple resides in Springdale, Ark., and has two sons Jaylen and Jordyn. Jaylen earned his bachelor’s degree in sport management from Winthrop while Jordyn is currently playing baseball for the Triple-A Norfolk Tides of the Baltimore Orioles organization. Jordyn was taken in the first round of the 2018 draft out of high school by the Los Angeles Angels. The couple also has two grandchildren: Laila and James.