BJ Adams Interview: 'I’m One Of The Best CBs In The Nation'

UCF cornerback BJ Adams is among the longest and most intriguing defenders in the 2025 NFL Draft. Adams recently accepted his invitation to participate in this year’s Senior Bowl. He plans to put the full range of his capabilities on display.

Adams spoke exclusively with The Draft Network. He discussed what he’s hoping to prove to naysayers in Mobile, generating more ball production in 2024, playing man and zone coverage, and more.

JM: You recently accepted your invite to this year's Senior Bowl. What did they mean to you, and what are you looking to prove in Mobile?

BJ Adams: The invite to the Senior Bowl meant a lot to me because that’s where the best of the best go compete throughout the pre-draft process. I also want to prove that I’m the best of the best when it comes to this cornerback class.

There’s a lot of politics that go on, but I’m looking forward to putting my abilities on tape one last time. Everybody at the Senior Bowl is going to see that I’m one of the best cornerbacks in the nation.

JM: You’ll get that opportunity. I'd say you entered the year looking for more ball production and you achieved that through interceptions in consecutive games against Cincinnati and Iowa State. Was that something you'd been focusing on?

BJ Adams: Yeah, I most definitely was. I had to switch up my mentality. I went from focusing on not letting receivers catch the ball to more of a my-ball mentality when it’s in the air. I only used to care about forcing incompletions. Playing this position over time, I came to a point where I wanted to produce more ball production. That’s what it takes to be great at the next level.

JM: You actually returned the interception against Iowa State for a 63-yard touchdown. What do you remember about that play? Break it down for me.

BJ Adams: I remember that play well. We identified that on film. Basically, any time the quarterback saw the corner was off to the boundary, he would throw a quick hitch. I saw that on tape. I recognized it and it flashed back into my memory.

It was a two-by-two concept and I was supposed to be playing press coverage, but I noticed they were in a three-step progression and I broke on the ball.

JM: It was an outstanding play. You have outstanding size, listed at 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds. How do you use that size to your advantage in coverage?

BJ Adams: I trust my speed and length above anything else. I want my coverage to force the quarterback to be perfect. There’s no such thing as a perfect quarterback. As long as I’m leaving him [the QB] no room for error, I can make a play. 

Receivers have to make a perfect catch in my coverage. I can live with that. I just can’t live with getting beat, or not using my size and speed.

JM: Do you prefer to play man coverage or zone coverage at that size?

BJ Adams: I love playing man coverage. That’s the honest truth. Zone coverage, that’s where ball production comes from. The majority of interceptions come in zone coverage. Man-to-man coverage, you can create ball production as well, but you have truly shut down your opponent in press. You have to lock that side of the field down.

JM: I'll put you in a scenario then. Say it's 3rd-and-long with the game on the line. Would you rather be manned up against the best WR, or playing zone with a chance to make a play on the ball?

BJ Adams: I’m playing zone coverage in that scenario. If I intercept that ball in zone, it's game over. We won the game. Playing zone in that situation makes more sense. You have to play smart football. That’s the biggest thing I had to do this season, was learn to play smarter ball.

JM: We love that. At 6-foot-3, is proving you could run and make transitions in coverage, is that something you're looking to prove at the NFL Combine? You’re definitely on the taller side at cornerback.

BJ Adams: That’s probably the biggest thing for me throughout this pre-draft process. I want to showcase my long speed. I was playing through a little injury earlier this season. I really couldn’t showcase the full capabilities of my long speed. I’m back healthy and ready now.

I think I’m going to have “wow” speed. People are going to say “wow” when they see what I run.

JM: We’re looking forward to it. We've appreciated your time today. What are your goals throughout this pre-draft process?

BJ Adams: My goal is to continue climbing the ladder. I never get too high or too low on myself. I’m just ready to compete. I’m moving forward trying to be the best defender I can be.