Former Palo Alto High School standout wide receiver Davante Adams recently declared for the upcoming 2014 National Football League (NFL) draft. Adams, a 2011 graduate, was on the Vikings’ 2010 State Championship team, which defeated powerhouse Centennial High School in the California Division I State Championship game.

Adams redshirted during the 2011 season, his first at Fresno State University, and was named the scout team’s player of the year on offense. He followed up an outstanding redshirt freshmen year in 2012 at Fresno State  University with an even better sophomore year. He lead all collegiate receivers in receptions (131) and touchdowns (24), as well as placing second in yards (1718).

The man throwing Adams the ball, Derek Carr, led the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in passing yards (5082) and touchdowns (50) and will also enter the NFL draft.

Most analysts project Adams to be an early to mid-second round draft pick. Predicting how a wide receiver such as Adams who put up such impressive statistics in college will fair in the NFL can be difficult, especially considering that Adams played in a pass-heavy offense at Fresno State.

However, Adams’s size and exceptional skills suggest that he will continue to improve and flourish in the NFL.

Many Paly students are proud that a graduate will enter the league as such a highly touted prospect.

“I think it’s definitely amazing that someone from Paly is going to the league after just two years [in college], and I hope he’ll be successful and come back to visit,” junior John Carter said.

Fantasy football players are also  excited to draft him, and “own” him as a manager.

“I’ll take him late in the draft, and hopefully he does well,” sophomore Kyle Koshiyama said. “He could be special.”

Adams will continue in the line of successful Paly athletes turning professional, joining National Basketball Association point guard Jeremy Lin (‘06) and top minor league baseball outfielders  Joc Pederson (‘10) and B.J. Boyd (‘12.)