Irish in the NFL: Josh Adams has arrived

Former Irish running back Josh Adams has risen to the top of the Philadelphia Eagles depth chart. All signs point to him staying there.

Josh Adams was one of the most prolific running backs in all of college football in 2017. He ran for over 1,400 yards at 6.9 yards per carry and nine touchdowns. He had a legitimate Heisman campaign going for the bulk of the season.

He was a star.

When the NFL Combine and Draft season came around, Adams was quickly lost in the shuffle in a loaded running back class that would eventually see 20 players selected at the position.

Not one of them was named Josh Adams.

Adams signed with the Eagles as an undrafted free agent after the draft. He joined what was at the time a loaded position group in Philadelphia.

Through injuries, styles of play and other factors, Josh Adams has risen up the Philadelphia delpth chart and cemented himself as the primary ball carrier. There are no signs of him losing that job anytime soon.

Adams has led the Eagles in rushing for four consecutive weeks. His running style is condusive to the elements that Philadelphia will play in during the home-stretch of the season. He’s a back who is built for late and postseason play. You can get a lead and give him the ball to milk the clock — possibly even breaking a long run here or there.

That’s huge in a tight NFC East race.

The Eagles have every reason to keep him as the starter, regardless of what happens if and when Jay Ajayi returns from his ACL injury. Ajayi has a similar running style as Adams, but is older and more expensive. Adams is due to make just over a million dollars through the 2019 season.

For now, what appeared to be a shaky start to a professional career looks like a sweet deal for the former Irish star. He’s got a starting gig for the defending world champions in a great sports town.

Drafted or not, Josh Adams has officially arrived as an NFL running back, and we’re excited to see how his career pans out.