Senior Brandon Adams isn’t starting his last year in high school the way he expected. After playing varsity football since freshman year, he planned to continue this season. Adams sustained an MCL injury last semester and then tore his ACL at one of the last workouts over the summer, and because of this, he hasn’t had the chance to get into full uniform and play yet this season. “It’s fun to watch my teammates play, but I wish I was out there with them,” Adams said.

After tearing his ACL, Adams was confined to a full leg brace for six weeks and only 30-degree movement of his leg.

“It was a bad six weeks,” Adams said. “I’ll tell you now that school doesn’t even feel the same, going to football just to watch them practice…everything feels different. My whole life has changed.”

Despite the multiple setbacks, Adams has plans to return to football and has managed to keep a positive outlook. “I want to play college football, but if that’s not what God wants me to do, then it’s not what He wants me to do,” Adams said. “God has a plan for everyone. You just have to trust him.”

Adam’s dream college is Clemson, even though he isn’t planning on going there. “I’m also a Gamecock fan,” Adams said. “I love going to Clemson and going to game days even though I’m not really a fan.” Adams wants to study nursing and if football doesn’t work out, he plans to be involved in intramural sports.

Graduating is exciting, but letting go of a place that has helped shaped him is bittersweet for Adams as he considered the classes and teachers he will be leaving.

“A class I will miss most from Chapman is probably weights. Even though I dreaded it most of the time, my coaches taught me many things that prepared me and my team for back to back state championships,” Adams said.

For Adams, a teacher that impacted him was Mr. Crittendon. “He knows what’s going on in people’s lives and the genuine love and care he has for his students is unexplainable,” Adams said. “Even though his class is at the end of the hallway, there’s not a day since my sophomore year that we haven’t talked or said ‘hey’ in the hallway.”

Adam’s dedication to school and the sport he loves is a great example for classmates. He will be remembered for his resilience in the midst of injury and his faithful support for our Panthers.