Derek Adams: P · Northwestern · #36.
Closest statistical matches, adjusted for opponent strength.
Northwestern’s specialists
Derek Adams
Handles the punting job without giving the return man a lane. Played for three head coaches at two programs in six seasons: Paul Haynes, Sean Lewis and Pat Fitzgerald. The first career honor came in 2019: All-MAC.
Play style
Handles the punting job without giving the return man a lane.
Punter archetype · season enumeration
Leg vs placement
41.5 gross, but 16 of 58 inside the 20 (27.6%) — a flipper. flipper
Net average is unavailable — no per-punt return-yardage linkage exists in the source data.
No outlet on our list has written about this player by name this season.
OregonLive Oct 29Game log · Week-by-week
2021 season · 12 games
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| Wk | Opp | PUNT | YDS | AVG | LONG | IN20 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 21-38vs Michigan State | 5 | 195 | 39.0 | 48 | 1 | |
| Wk 2 | W 24-6vs Indiana State | 4 | 175 | 43.8 | 53 | 1 | |
| Wk 3 | L 23-30@ Duke | 5 | 224 | 44.8 | 55 | 2 | |
| Wk 4 | W 35-6vs Ohio | 4 | 189 | 47.3 | 54 | 2 | |
| Wk 5 | L 7-56@ Nebraska | 4 | 193 | 48.3 | 51 | 2 | |
| Wk 7 | W 21-7vs Rutgers | 7 | 279 | 39.9 | 55 | 3 | |
| Wk 8 | L 7-33@ No. 6 Michigan | 6 | 256 | 42.7 | 52 | 1 | |
| Wk 9 | L 14-41vs Minnesota | 3 | 148 | 49.3 | 53 | 0 | |
| Wk 10 | L 12-17vs No. 19 Iowa | 7 | 242 | 34.6 | 40 | 2 | |
| Wk 11 | L 7-35@ No. 20 Wisconsin | 4 | 161 | 40.3 | 58 | 2 | |
| Wk 12 | L 14-32vs Purdue | 2 | 82 | 41.0 | 44 | 0 | |
| Wk 13 | L 14-47@ Illinois | 7 | 264 | 37.7 | 46 | 0 | |
| Total | 58 | 2408 | 41.5 | 58 | 16 |
Season context: team record and system
Punter profile · Distance and placement
Where his punts land, not just how far
Inside the 20
28%16 of 58Touchback rate
0%0 of 58Yards / punt
41.558 puntsLong
58yards41.5 yards/punt on 58 punts · 28% placed inside the 20.
Player standing · 2021
Fewer touches a game than most FBS offensive players who play every week.
Northwestern carries four punters; Adams has taken 58 of the 96.
How it ended
Six seasons, at Kent State and Northwestern — the college career is complete.
Recruited as a two-star, and honored since.
Trophy case · Confirmed honors
What the selectors said
ALL-MAC
All-MAC mention (2019)
Coaching lineage · 2016–2021
3 coachesPlayed for 3 head coaches at 2 schools: Paul Haynes, Sean Lewis and Pat Fitzgerald.
