Julius “The Jewel” Adams was a standout at Ballard-Hudson and became a “star tackle” that gained statewide recognition. He was named Ballard-Hudson Player of the Year and was recruited by UCLA and Michigan State before opting to attend Texas Southern. Adams earned All-Conference honors during the 1968 and 1970 seasons and made an immediate and long-lasting impact after being selected by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 1971 NFL Draft. He started as a rookie and was chosen to the All-Rookie team. In his NFL career, Adams played in 180 games with 151 starts. He had 75.5 career sacks to his credit and was the top tackler among Patriots’ defensive linemen in 1983 with a total of 83 tackles. In 1980 he made his first and only Pro Bowl appearance. He won the Jim Lee Hunt Memorial Award, given to the most outstanding Patriot lineman in both 1980 and 1982, and was a member of both the 1970 and 1980 All-Decade teams in addition to the Patriots’ 35th and 50th Anniversary teams. Perhaps the highlight of his long, storied career with New England was playing in the Super Bowl in 1986 against the Chicago Bears. Adams was inducted into the Macon Sports Hall of Fame in 2016 shortly after passing away at the age of 67.
The Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame honors and celebrates the rich history, achievements, and contributions of high school football players, coaches, and supporters across the state.
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