Adkins ready for rematch with Union

By Matt Patterson
Staff Writer

JENKS — Jenks running back Chris Adkins likes to go against the grain.

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While most of his teammates have followed Jenks tradition and bleached their hair, Adkins has not. Most kids his age love playing Madden. He does not. Most of his classmates take four years to graduate from high school. Adkins will graduate in January.

And maybe that's one reason why the 5-foot-11, 190-pound senior has had so much success at Jenks, including back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Against Enid last year, he powered the Trojans to their 11th state championship.

He's even better in 2007. Adkins rushed for 137 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-7 semifinal win over Midwest City. He had 211 yards in September against Tulsa Union, which is Jenks' opponent in Friday night's Class 6A championship game at Chapman Stadium in Tulsa.

"I'm heavier, and I'm stronger and a little bit faster,” Adkins said. "That's always a plus. I haven't got as many carries as I did last season, so my legs are fresher. I wish I had more yards per carry. That's the only stat I'd like to be better at.”

He has become Jenks quarterback Mark Ginther's wing man. When the Trojans need yards, more often than not they turn to Adkins.

"He's really important because he attracts the defense to him and opens up my stuff,” Ginther said. "Once he gets going, so do I. He makes our offense click.”

Jenks coach Allan Trimble has seen the year-by-year progression in Adkins, a starter for three seasons. He's a better blocker, a better runner and a better kid. Jenks has had a long line of skilled running backs such as Alaska and Kejuan Jones, Josh Fiddler, Freddie Carolina and Rocky Calmus. Trimble said Adkins belongs in the mix with Jenks' best.

"Chris is a great receiver, and he's got great vision,” Trimble said. "He sees the holes like Freddie. I wouldn't say he's a track guy, but he has tremendous quickness. He can be physical when he has to be. He's not afraid to run inside the tackles. I'd compare him to a quick Josh Fiddler. Josh could catch the ball and run inside and out. He's very competitive like Rocky. He has those same characteristics.”

Adkins will need all of them if Jenks is to beat Union. The Trojans lost to Union in overtime, 43-42, in their last meeting. In that game, Union's Jeremy Smith ran wild, rushing for 155 yards and a 7.4 yard per carry average. The sophomore is considered as one of the brightest up-and-coming stars in Oklahoma's high school ranks.

"That's a hard question to answer,” Adkins said, when asked to compare himself to Smith. "He's a great player. He's a lot stronger than I am. He breaks tackles better than I do. I think I'm more elusive. We have different styles, but he's a great back.”

Ginther knows who he prefers.

"I've never played with Jeremy, but I don't think someone could be as good in high school as Chris,” he said. "I'd take him over Jeremy, but that's just me.”

Adkins has been recruited by Tulsa, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Iowa State and Texas Christian. With high school coming to an end, he's savoring every last practice, and he can't think of a better way to bow out than against Union.

"I love rematches,” Adkins said. "Whether we win or lose the first one, I love playing them again. We all do.”

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Adkins ready for rematch with Union

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