Alabama All-State 2025 LB Cayden Adkins picking up offers and interest
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
College coaches looking for a multipurpose defender in the box, Cayden Adkins is your guy. Taking on Alabama offenses, Adkins (6-2, 235) racked up the stats and post-season accolades during his junior campaign helping Elba High School to a 13-1 record; and did so playing both sides of the ball. As offers and recruiting interest start to pile up, next level scouts are also liking what they are seeing from Adkins on the offensive side of the ball.
After earning first team All-State honors with 120 tackles, 81 solo, 41 tackles for a loss, seven sacks, a pick, two forced fumbles, two recovered fumbles, and a blocked punt on the defensive stat sheet, it is hard to see Adkins anywhere other than as an inside and/or outside backer in college. But Adkins also shined as an H-back for the Tigers.
“Air Force is also looking at me as a fullback,” Adkins said. “One of the coaches at Troy said, ‘we can put you at linebacker, defensive end, fullback, or H-back’.”
Being that player that coaches love to coach, Adkins is willing to do anything to help his team win. This fall, he will be taking on a bigger role in Elba’s offensive attack.
“I will be playing quarterback this season as well as linebacker,” Adkins stated. “My freshman year I played quarterback at a 5A school. I had three touchdowns in my first game and four in my second game but then I had an injury.
“Last year I played wing back, I am familiar with the offense. We’ve been doing installs. I knew what the quarterback did, I was the backup last year. He got hurt a couple of times, I jumped in. We’ve been doing installs after school, breaking the plays down, and I’ve been working on throwing. With one of my coaches, I’ve been working on my footwork and throwing.”
Executing a 4-3 defense, Adkins spoke about his role in the scheme, “Basically, I am a hybrid defensive end and outside linebacker depending on the calls. In certain formations they get me on the line. Sometimes the call has me fill the gaps.
“In our defense, sometimes you make the play and sometimes you do something for the team. When a guard pulls, you pick him up or you make the play, you do your part for the team.”
Adkins continued covering his strengths on the field as a linebacker, “My strengths, I would say I have gotten a lot better at reading the field, reading guards, and watching film. This year I feel I conquered film. I could tell where the guard was moving and what they were doing. I would tell my teammates before the play. I knew what they were doing before they did it, that is what I picked up on during my junior year.
“I’m not scared of contact. My speed to the ball is a strength. When I was younger, I went against a linebacker that committed to South, my head would hurt after going against him but now I am numb to it. You just go get the running back or the quarterback with the ball.”
Asked what scouts may be missing about his talents as a defender, Adkins replied, “I am instinctive. Some coaches want a robotic look; I’m not that way but I get the job done. Coach (Glenn) Schumann (LB) from Georgia said to me, ‘you would have every offer out there 15 years ago’. He likes how I smack players in the mouth.”
The offseason is about taking all the skills to another level.
“In 1A we don’t do a lot of pass covering,” Adkins shared. “You have to learn how to do that for college. I have been going to Birmingham to train with coach L. I am working on my footwork, turning my hips, learning how to breakdown, and watching their hips.”
The strength shown on film is a byproduct of time in the weight room.
“We maxed last week; my bench was 340, my squat was 450, and my power clean was 300,” Adkins said.
Adkins just competed at a Rivals camp in Alabama showcasing his talents at a level where other campers thought he was the best of the best.
“It went well,” Adkins stated. “I feel like I did well in the drills. I was working on breaking down during the drills. I loved the linebacker coach there. I did well with my coverage. All the other linebackers thought I was going to win MVP; sometimes you just don’t get it.”
A list of college camps is already being put together.
“I plan on going to some college camps this summer, Auburn, Georgia, probably Georgia Tech, and other colleges that want me to go there too,” Adkins stated.
Air Force, Troy, Eastern Kentucky, and Georgia State have extended scholarship opportunities.
The recent offer from the Panthers was covered, “I went to their spring practice. The Eastern Kentucky coach that offered me, coach (Jeremy) Hawkins (DL), he just moved there. I was watching them practice, and he came by to say what’s up. As soon as practice was over, he took me down a hallway into an office. He said he wanted to talk to me one-on-one. They showed me the facility, and then he offered me. He said, ‘you go where I go’.”
There’s a long list of programs showing interest in the Class of 2025 prospect.
“Jack State, UAB, and Samford; they’ve been really interested in me,” Adkins shared. “South Alabama, their DC wants to meet me in person. I am supposed to go up there sometime soon. Kennesaw State, Georgia wants me to camp with them, and Navy has been sending me fliers. Their linebackers coach followed me the other day. He said, ‘we love you’ in all caps.
“Arizona called about me saying they are coming in the spring to see me. Auburn wants me to come up this spring. They said they are going to come watch me this spring. North Alabama has been showing interest; that has been going pretty good. Wake Forest invited me to their camp; they have been talking to me a little bit.”
In addition to visiting Georgia State, Adkins was also invited to Troy for a Junior Day.
“It went great,” Adkins said. “We went there for a basketball game. They were talking to us. Their head coach (Gerad Parker), I love him. I like how he does stuff.
“At the game, I was sitting with one of my friends from high school. It was cool how they offered me. Their DC asked who I brought with me; I brought my dad and head coach. We are on a family chat on my phone. He left a message saying I am letting you know we are offering your son a full ride.
“My dad told him we’ve been texting and praying about a D-I offer. He sent a voicemail. Coach Dontae Wright said, ‘you can stop praying, we are offering your son a full scholarship’. My dad was in front of me during the game, he said check your phone. I started crying and hugged him.”
Before hitting the camp circuit this summer, Adkins has a few more visits in the works.
“I plan on going to South Alabama, and Tennessee wants me to come up there,” Adkins stated. “They told me and Alvin Henderson that we should both go up there in April. I plan on visiting Jack State, UAB, and Samford.”
*Click the link to see Cayden Adkins’ Hudl.