Even after losing 25 pounds, Adams is the biggest lineman Tech has. Cerge-Henderson is listed at 298 pounds, while Branch, a converted defensive end, seems undersized at 270. Adams showed promise last season to be the run-stopping force that the Jackets desperately needed at times. Tech ranked 86th in the nation by allowing 4.73 yards per carry. Adam’s emergence would be timely.

“Brandon’s been really good,” senior defensive end KeShun Freeman said. “I think he’s going to do some really great things, especially adding on to the playing time he got last year. I’m really looking forward to him making a lot of great plays for our defensive line.”

Missed practice time could hurt Adams’ chances of making a quick impact Monday against Tennessee, though the Volunteers’ big offensive front could be seen as a perfect fit to test him out. Paul Johnson revealed after practice Monday that Adams has missed practice time.

“Well, Brandon missed a lot of practice early in fall camp,” Johnson said. “So he’s been out there for about a week and a half, and he’s trying to play himself into some football shape. Hopefully he’ll be ready to play some Monday night. He’s a limited reps guy right now. He hasn’t practiced a whole lot.”

As a Nashville native, Adams will know several players on the other sideline. He said he’s not treating the game with any added importance though.

“Yeah, a lot of my friends are on the team and a lot of friends I’ve played against,” Adams said. “There’s always some trash talking going around, but it’s fun. … Good competition.”

While he didn't grow up in the heart of Volunteers country as did Tech teammates Brant Mitchell and Nathan Cottrell, Adams still has family members who are diehard Tennessee fans. He also rooted for the Vols as a child, just not in the dedicated fashion that Mitchell did.

“I rooted for all the Tennessee colleges,” Adams said. “If Tennessee was playing, I’d cheer for them and if Vanderbilt was playing, I’d cheer for them. I do have some family (that are Tennessee fans), but I don’t think they’re changing roles. I think they want to see me play good, but they’ll want Tennessee to win.”

After a full year in at Tech, Adams feels more comfortable with his weight and the mental aspect of his position. He brings the size and run-stopping ability that Tech has sorely missed up the middle in recent years, and if Adams can bring it all together in his sophomore season, the Yellow Jackets could have a key component to a defense looking to break out this fall.

“I feel like I fully grasp (the playbook) now, so it’s not like I’m going out there thinking about what I’m going to do,” Adams said. “If they make the call, I can just fly around. So I just feel like the sky is the limit for me personally with my expectation level for myself.”