When Tony Adams reflects on who he was as a freshman at Illinois — about five years ago — he sees a young kid who was focused and knew what he wanted out of college. But, he also sees a boy who was selfish and didn't look at things with a focus on the team, rather a focus on himself.

That mindset had to change for Adams to find success on the football field and in life. And it would, but not without continuous challenges on the football field and some life-altering experiences in Adams' personal life.

"From a boy to a man," Adams said. "At 18 I wouldn't have dealt with the stuff, the same trials I deal with now, the certain way I did. And just to see my growth as a person and my character, I think that's the biggest thing for me. Football gonna take care of itself, but I think the development of my character has been huge. I'm just blessed."

When it came to football, Adams didn't have the best luck his first few years. He missed 14 games due to injuries between freshman and junior year, never getting the chance to play a full season.

But there was promise for Adams since the beginning. As a freshman in 2017, he became the first Illinois true freshman cornerback to start the season opener since Vontae Davis in 2006. He recorded his first career interception and sack as a freshman, then added one more of each as a sophomore.  

Adams' junior year was his best yet as he started 10 games at defensive back and added 39 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and two interceptions. Just as Adams felt ready to have a healthy senior year, COVID-19 hit and created havoc in the college football world.

While Adams could've left after the 2020 season, he wanted to stay at Illinois and try for one more season with his guys. And finally, for the first time, he felt 100% for spring football and began learning from head coach Bret Bielema and defensive coordinator Ryan Walters.

"The biggest thing I've probably learned is development is key," Adams said. "I was just reflecting last night, this was my first spring ball I went through, so I kind of missed out on that development period from injuries and things like that. So I was just grateful for the opportunity and just to see how their minds work and how Coach B runs his program. I mean, it's special. And I think sometimes I'll be thinking years ahead, but I think Illinois, football, we'll be back."

But between all those injuries and challenges Adams faced with football, his uncle, someone he was very close to, passed away. Adams grew up in Belleville, Ill., where his uncle lived with him for a while, bonding the two for life.

Adams admits he hated the person he became after his uncle passed. He wasn't happy with himself or really anything around him. After a while of feeling that way, Adams needed a change in order to keep developing as a man, something he was very passionate about.

Former Illinois safeties coach Gill Byrd introduced Adams to his connection with religion. Adams remembers sitting in Byrd's office for hours some nights talking about the Bible and God. As Adams took it more seriously, he began to release that hate and find who he was again.

Then, before the 2020 season, Adams took it a step further.

"Over COVID I gave my life to Christ, June 23, before last season," Adams said. "But I really took it deeper before this season just trying to get closer to God because I know it's somebody out there watching over me, it's something out there. And I just developed more. Reading the Proverbs, digging deeper in the Bible, just learning how to live this life and not just do everything that the world teaches us to do. But just trying to live and be a noble person with good character."

But Adams would endure another tragic event about a year later. After a team lift a couple weeks into this year's fall training camp, defensive backs coach Aaron Henry pulled Adams aside and told him his grandmother had passed away.

Adams was extremely close to her as she lived with him back in Belleville and was instrumental in raising him. In the middle of fall camp, Adams had to leave Champaign and go back to Belleville for her service.

When he returned to campus, he "tried to wear a mask," around his team and coaches. Those next couple weeks were extremely hard for Adams. He didn't have time to process his emotions and grieve because the season was quickly approaching and he wanted to be completely locked in.

Then, Adams was met with some news that changed the trajectory of his season. He was selected as a captain of the Illini for the first time.

"I think being a captain here was the biggest accomplishment I've had since I've been here," Adams said. "Just to see where I was last year, I was nowhere near the person I am now. Right when I got named captain, I think it was a little bit after my my grandmother passed away. It was like tears of joy. To see the team rally around me just from my grandmother passing and just knowing that these guys believe in me, to step out here and be their leader. I'm lost for words. I'm just grateful."

After seeing the faith his teammates had in him to lead them this season, Adams was able to take the time to process his grandmother's death. To this day, though, it's still difficult to talk about his grandmother without shedding some tears. But those tears are a sign that Adams has grown as a man. He doesn't hide his emotions anymore; he handles them and uses it as motivation to push forward.

Achieving that high level of character is something Adams has been searching for since his was a freshman. Now, he is proud of the man he is and the football player he is still becoming.

Adams has thrived in the captain role this season as he's taken great pride in being a leader at Illinois. He set his career-high in tackles in the first game of the season with 11. He has 2.5 tackles for loss and one interception. And his presence on the field is undeniable as he's always keeping his teammates motivated while holding himself accountable.

Sometimes Adams wishes he could stay at Illinois longer or could change some things in the past, but everything that has happened has shaped him into the best person and football player he's ever been. And it's just his beginning.  

"The unknown scares me, to be honest, it scares me," Adams said, "Like what's next? I just wish I had more time. I wish I could do it over a little bit. But at the same time, you can only stay somewhere so long and it's time for me to step out into the unknown. It's time for something new. It's time to see what's next for Tony Adams."