UAB’s ADRIAN MADDOX EMERGING FOR BLAZER DEFENSE

Adrian Maddox, apparently, is good at making impressions on the football field. He did so as a 17-year-old freshman at Alabama State. Now, two years later, he is doing so at UAB.

Need proof? We’ll check in with UAB head coach Trent Dilfer.

“He has been a problem on defense, for us offensively,” Dilfer said after Friday’s scrimmage, which marked the 10thspring practice session for the Blazers. “He’s a playmaker. He has incredible what I call the “I grade”, the instinct grade. He doesn’t have to be perfectly aligned. He doesn’t have to take the perfect drop. He can save himself with his instincts. He’s a very, very good football player, only going to get better.”

Does that mean Maddox has been better than expected?

“Hold on,” Dilfer said. “I don’t want to start listing recruits but he was very, very, very, very high on our targeted recruits. And he has even exceeded expectations.”

Maddox, an Atlanta native, who played at Heritage High in Conyers, Georgia, established himself as one of the top defensive backs in the FCS in his two seasons at Alabama State. In two seasons, he totaled 90 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, two interceptions, 10 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two forced fumbles.

It all began as a young freshman, who entered his first fall camp deep down the depth chart at safety.

“That first practice, it was crazy,” Maddox said, laughing at the memory. “That first fall camp, they put it on me. It got real ugly.”

Not ugly enough to keep Maddox off the field. By the time the season kicked off in the MEAC-SWAC Challenge against Howard, Maddox had worked his way into the starting lineup. His starting nod came partly because of some fall camp injuries to older players and partly because he showed the coaching staff his capabilities.

Maddox, who was still 17 when the season began, had eight tackles and an interception in the season-opening win over Howard. By the end of the year, Maddox was one of 25 finalists for the FCS Jerry Rice Award, which honors the top freshman in the country.

After two seasons at Alabama State, Maddox decided to climb the college football ladder.

“I talked to my parents and staff and was praying to God, day in, day out,” Maddox said. “I feel like it is a better situation for me, going to a bigger program. As a freshman, I played with all juniors and stuff. Going into my sophomore year, they were seniors. All the guys I was playing with left, so the chemistry wouldn’t be there. It was the best decision for me.”

Maddox said he learned quickly – like first practice quick -  the game is a bit different at the FBS level.

“It’s way faster, I can’t lie,” Maddox said. “First day I put on pads, oh my God. Seem like linemen are the same speed (as you), coming to get you. It’s definitely different. It’s a fun different, though. Every day I’m learning, getting better.”

He’s not only improving but he is thriving. Maddox has not only fit in nicely but has moved to the top of a depth chart that could change daily. Obviously, he has shown he belongs at this level, hence the comments from his head coach.

“What really goes through my mind when I hear that is just keeping doing it, keep being consistent,” said Maddox, who won’t turn 20 until August. “People are going to make plays, just do it over and over. Show you’re consistent, show you can do it day in, day out. That’s good for me to hear, but keep pushing.”