Vernon Adams facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Vernon Adams Jr.

No. 8     Calgary Stampeders
Adams with the BC Lions in 2023
Born:	(1993-01-03) January 3, 1993 (age 32) Pasadena, California, U.S.
Career information
Status	Active
CFL status	American
Position(s)	Quarterback
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	200 lb (91 kg)
College	Eastern Washington (2012-2014) Oregon (2015)
High school	Bishop Alemany (Mission Hills, California)
NFL draft	2016 / Undrafted
Career history
As player
2016–2017	Montreal Alouettes
2017	Saskatchewan Roughriders
2018*	Hamilton Tiger-Cats
2018–2022	Montreal Alouettes
2022–2024	BC Lions
2025–present	Calgary Stampeders
Career highlights and awards
CFL East All-Star (2019) CFL rushing touchdowns co-leader (2019) CFL passing yardage leader (2023) 2x Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year (2013, 2014) 2x First-team All-Big Sky (2013, 2014)
Career stats
Passing completions	956
Passing attempts	1,488
Passing yards	13,261
TD–INT	80–45
Rushing Yards	1,431
Rushing touchdowns	21
Playing stats at CFL.ca

Vernon Anthony Adams Jr. (born January 3, 1993) is an American professional football quarterback. He currently plays for the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Before joining the CFL, he played college football for the Eastern Washington Eagles and Oregon Ducks. He has also played for the Montreal Alouettes, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Saskatchewan Roughriders, and BC Lions.

Early Life and High School Football

Vernon Adams Jr. grew up in Pasadena, California. He went to Bishop Alemany High School in Mission Hills, Los Angeles, and graduated in 2011.

During his last two years of high school, he was an amazing player. He threw for over 5,200 yards and 49 touchdowns. He also ran for more than 1,200 yards and scored 19 rushing touchdowns. His team, Alemany, had a great record of 22 wins and only 5 losses.

In his junior year, Adams threw for 2,333 yards and 22 touchdowns. He also ran for 367 yards and five scores, helping Alemany to a 10–4 record.

As a senior, he was named the Most Valuable Player of the Serra League. He led his team to win the league title in 2010. Alemany won its first 12 games that season. Adams passed for 2,901 yards with 27 touchdowns and ran for 896 yards with 14 touchdowns.

After high school, Adams didn't get many scholarship offers from top college football teams. This was partly because some coaches worried about his height. He only received two offers from smaller college teams: Portland State and Eastern Washington. Adams first said he would go to Portland State, but then changed his mind on National Signing Day and chose Eastern Washington.

College Football Career

Eastern Washington Eagles

Starting Strong in 2012

Adams didn't play in 2011, spending the year learning and practicing with the team. He was named the Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year. In 2012, he started sharing the quarterback position with another player, Kyle Padron. Adams started nine games and helped the Eagles reach the semifinals of the FCS playoffs. He finished the year with 1,961 passing yards and 20 touchdowns.

In a playoff game against Sam Houston State, Adams came off the bench. He threw for 364 yards and a school-record six touchdowns, almost helping his team come back from a big deficit.

For his great first year, Adams was named Freshman of the Year by College Sporting News. He was also a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award, which goes to the best freshman in the FCS.

Becoming a Star in 2013

In his second year, Adams became the main starting quarterback. He gained national attention when he led his team to a big upset win against #25 Oregon State. In that game, he threw for 411 yards and four touchdowns, and also ran for 107 yards and two touchdowns.

Adams led the Eagles to a 12–3 record, winning the Big Sky Conference Championship. They also made it to the NCAA Division I Semifinals. He was named the Big Sky All-Conference 1st Team and the Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year. He also won the FCS National Performer of the Year award. Adams finished second in the voting for the Walter Payton Award, which honors the best offensive player in the FCS.

He started all 15 games, throwing for 4,994 yards and 55 touchdowns. He also ran for 605 yards.

Junior Year and Injury in 2014

Adams started his junior year as one of the most well-known players in the FCS. He led his team to their third straight Big Sky Conference championship and another trip to the FCS playoffs. Adams was leading the nation in total offense and passing yards per game. However, he broke two bones in his foot in October and missed four games.

In a game against Washington in September, Adams threw for 475 yards and seven touchdowns. This was the most touchdowns the Huskies had ever allowed to an opposing quarterback at home.

Adams received many awards after the season. He was named the Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-Big Sky Conference for the second year in a row. He was also named a First-Team All-American by the Associated Press. For the second year, he was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, finishing as the runner-up.

In January, Adams decided to leave Eastern Washington. He wanted to transfer to a bigger school for his senior year. He talked to schools like Oregon, UCLA, and Boise State.

Oregon Ducks

In February 2015, Adams announced he would transfer to the University of Oregon. However, he needed to finish a math class to graduate from Eastern Washington first. He passed the class in August and officially joined the Oregon Ducks. After only two weeks, Adams was named the starting quarterback. His first game was against his old team, Eastern Washington. Adams started 10 games, throwing for 2,643 yards and 26 touchdowns. He also led the nation in passing efficiency.

College Statistics

Note: Total QB rating or QBR is a special way to measure a quarterback's performance. It is used by ESPN. Adams' games while at Eastern Washington were not measured by ESPN for QBR.

College Awards

• East-West Shrine Game Offensive MVP (2016)
• PAC-12 Newcomer of the Year (2015)
• Honorable Mention All-Pac-12 (2015)
• College Football Performance Awards FCS National Performer of the Year (2013)
• First Team FCS All-American (AP) (2014)
• First Team FCS All-American (AP, TSN) (2013)
• First Team FCS All-American College Sporting News (2012)
• 2× First Team All-Big Sky Conference (2013, 2014)
• 2× Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Year (2013, 2014)
• 2x Passing Efficiency Rating Statistical Champion NCAA (2013-183.4, 2015–179.1)

Professional Football Career

Adams was not chosen in the 2016 NFL draft. After the draft, he tried out for the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Redskins at their rookie mini-camps, but he was not signed by either team.

In May 2016, the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL) showed interest in Adams.

Montreal Alouettes (First Time)

On May 20, 2016, Adams' rights were traded to the Montreal Alouettes. He signed a three-year contract with them on May 22, 2016. On October 22, he started his first game for the Alouettes. Adams started the last three games of the season, throwing four touchdowns and running for one. He won all three of those games. The Alouettes missed the playoffs that year.

In the 2017 season, Adams was a backup quarterback for the first seven games and scored one rushing touchdown.

Adams with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2017

Saskatchewan Roughriders

On August 15, 2017, Adams was traded to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. With the Roughriders, Adams played in eleven regular season games and two playoff games as a backup. He scored three rushing touchdowns in the regular season. He also scored a touchdown in the East Semi-Final playoff game.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

On February 2, 2018, Adams was traded to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He was later listed as a wide receiver, but he never played a game for Hamilton. On June 21, 2018, he was released by the Tiger-Cats.

Adams with the Montreal Alouettes in 2022

Montreal Alouettes (Second Time)

2018 Season

On June 26, 2018, Adams rejoined the Alouettes. He started one game, throwing for 217 yards and running for 72 yards and a touchdown. He then got a foot injury and missed the rest of the season. In October 2018, he signed a new two-year contract with the Alouettes.

2019 Season

Adams started the 2019 season as a backup. But when the starting quarterback got injured, Adams became the starter. He played very well, winning three games in a row. He then suffered a concussion but returned later in the season. Adams led the Alouettes to many come-from-behind victories. His team finished second in their division with a 7–5 record.

During one game, Adams pulled an opponent's helmet off and swung it. This led to him being suspended for one game by the CFL. He finished the regular season with a 10-5 record as the starting quarterback. He was named the team's Most Outstanding Player.

Adams started his first CFL playoff game, but the Alouettes lost.

2020 Season

Adams did not play in 2020 because the CFL season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021 Season

Adams returned as the starting quarterback for the 2021 season. He played well until he suffered a shoulder injury in Week 10. He was placed on the injured list and did not return for the rest of the season. Adams played in eight games in 2021. In December 2021, he signed a contract extension with the Alouettes until the 2023 CFL season.

2022 Season

Adams started the first game of the 2022 season. However, after a slow start in the second game, another quarterback, Trevor Harris, took over. Adams later suffered an elbow injury and was placed on the injured list.

BC Lions

Adams with the BC Lions in 2022

On August 31, 2022, Adams was traded to the BC Lions. Their starting quarterback, Nathan Rourke, had a foot injury. Adams first played as a backup for the Lions. After two losses, Adams was named the starting quarterback. He played in eight games for the Lions in 2022, starting six of them. He had a 4–2 record as a starter, throwing for 1,504 yards and six touchdowns.

Rourke returned from his injury later that season. In January 2023, Rourke signed with an NFL team, creating an opening for the Lions' starting quarterback job. On February 8, 2023, Adams signed a two-year contract extension with the Lions.

2023 Season

Adams began the 2023 season as the Lions' starting quarterback. He started the first six games, winning five of them. In one game, he threw six interceptions. In Week 7, he suffered a knee injury. Luckily, it was not serious, and he missed only two games. He started all other remaining games, leading the team to an 11-5 record as a starter. He played in 18 games, starting 16. He threw for 4,769 yards and 31 touchdowns, both career highs. Adams led the CFL in passing yardage, even though he started fewer games than some other quarterbacks.

In the West Semi-Final playoff game, Adams played a fantastic game. He threw for 413 yards and two touchdowns, and also ran for three more touchdowns. The Lions won 41–30. The next week, the Lions lost in the West Final.

On February 21, 2024, Adams signed a three-year contract extension with the Lions.

2024 Season

Adams led the Lions to a 5–3 start in the 2024 season. He had five games with over 300 passing yards. In the eighth game, he left with a knee injury. While he recovered, another quarterback started.

In August, the Lions re-signed Nathan Rourke. The team said they planned to keep both Rourke and Adams. Adams started the last regular season game, helping the Lions win 27–3.

Adams started the West Semi-Final playoff game. He threw a 56-yard touchdown pass and later another 11-yard touchdown pass. However, he also threw three interceptions, and the Lions lost 28–19.

Calgary Stampeders

On November 26, 2024, it was announced that Adams had been traded to the Calgary Stampeders.

CFL Career Statistics

Playoff Statistics