Adams might be young, but the 5-foot-11, 165-pound cornerback is moving his way up the depth chart and onto the field in pressure situations, competing for playing time on defense with juniors and seniors.

The youngest player and only freshman listed on the depth chart in MSU’s secondary should continue to see snaps as the season progresses, especially if he performs as he did in the second half of last Saturday’s game against Eastern Michigan.

Adams drew praise from MSU head coach Mark Dantonio for his play against the Eagles, most of which was in the latter part of the game. He also saw snaps at California in the Spartans’ week one loss.

Adams’ role could become ever greater this week, as junior cornerback Ross Weaver has shuffled to safety because of injuries and junior free safety Roderick Jenrette’s leave of absence. Senior Kendell Davis-Clark also was moved from cornerback to safety earlier this year but has been battling a shoulder injury.

Although he’s competing with more experienced cornerbacks, such as sophomore Chris L. Rucker, and juniors Jeremy Ware and Ashton Henderson, Adams’ attitude on the field has impressed coaches.

Dantonio related Adams’ game to that of former MSU cornerback Renaldo Hill, who was selected in the seventh round of the 2001 NFL Draft and now plays safety for the Miami Dolphins.

“He’s extremely competitive, he’s got great ball judgment on the deep ball, he’s tough,” Dantonio said.

“He’s got a little something to him.”

While Dantonio doesn’t know what Adams’ role will become as the season develops, the freshman will continue mastering his playbook and competing in practice.

Adams enrolled at MSU in January and practiced with the team during the spring semester but said he still has much to learn about the position.

“It helped me out a little bit,” Adams said. “You get the mental part of the game, but I’m still trying to get the physical part down, just learning the speed of the college wideouts.”

Weaver, a 6-foot-1 product of Southfield, said Adams has the physical ability to fill in at the position.

In high school, Adams was an honorable mention all-state basketball player, averaging 15 points and eight assists at Buchtel High School as a junior, and ran a leg of the school’s 4×100-meter relay team that placed second in Ohio two years ago.

“Johnny’s a great athlete,” Weaver said.

“I’m real confident he can get in and make a play if he has to.”