Khary Adams embraces the physicality of cornerback, showcasing speed, length, and ball-hawking skills to bolster Notre Dame's elite secondary.
Over the last several seasons, there's been some common traits we've seen cornerbacks exhibit in South Bend. The Notre Dame secondary has quickly risen in the ranks as one of the most dominant units in college football over the last few seasons, and the play of their cornerbacks from Cam Hart and Benjamin Morrison to Leonard Moore and Christian Gray have been heavy drivers of that conversation.
All four guys have brought similar characteristics to the table: length, size, big play-making ability and confidence. True freshman early enrollee cornerback Khary Adams has a lot of those traits already and is ready to contribute to this outstanding secondary in 2026, and it didn't take long into his football career to figure out why he loved playing cornerback.
"My freshman year in high school, we had some receivers, but I didn't like their attitudes," Adams explained when asked why he didn't play offense. "They were a little sassy. On defense, you could go smash them; I wanted to go smash them. The line was just long for receivers. Everybody wanted to play. I wasn't trying to wait."
The Maryland native fell in love with the position relatively early throughout his high school career and put up big numbers along the way. In his final two years at Loyola Blakesfield High School, Adams recorded 67 total tackles, five interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
"I just like taking the ball away," Adams answered when asked what made him fall in love with playing the position. "It's just a good feeling when you get that pick or get that pass breakup. It's a great feeling."
Adams is extremely confident in the traits he brings to the table, and the film backs it up. He was one of the best cornerbacks in the country according to Rivals Industry Rankings. The 6-1, 178-pound freshman was ranked as a five-star recruit coming out of high school, the No. 27 player in the nation, the No. 2 cornerback in the class and the No. 4 player in the state of Maryland according to Rival's Industry Rankings.
"I am fast," Adams responded when asked what traits he brings to the table. "I'm physical. I've got long arms. I can get my hands on people, and I'm fast. I can run with most receivers."
Sound familiar to anyone else they currently have in the room? The easy answer is 'most of the players in the room' but Adams will be learning in the boundary from the best cornerback, and one of the best football players in the country, Unanimous All-American Leonard Moore.
"I think we're similar in size," Adams said on the comparisons between him and Moore. "And then I think with our hands, we both like to get hands on receivers and we have good ball skills. I think I have pretty good ball skills; he has good ball skills. So, I see some similarities in that. He gives me little bits from the game and things I should improve on."
Adams was one of the highest ranked recruits in the country and was a major contributor to Notre Dame having the No. 1 ranked recruiting class in the country in the 2026 cycle according to On3. In any other year, Adams would come in and start, or at the bare minimum be in the rotation. He still has the opportunity for a spot in the rotation this year, and his high-level skillset and confidence will help him get there.
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