Adams, Posey Realize NFL Dreams

Two Ohio State players, OT Mike Adams and WR DeVier Posey, were selected on day two of the NFL draft. At least two more players, C Mike Brewster and RB Boom Herron, could be selected today as the draft continues.

Mike Adams and DeVier Posey

The 6-7, 323-pound Adams grew up as a Pittsburgh Steelers fan. He thought he had blown his chance to be a Steeler when he discovered he had tested positive for marijuana at the NFL combine. He reportedly drove to Pittsburgh and met with the Steelers brass. They were honest and said he had been pulled off their draft board.

But Adams impressed the Steelers’ decisionmakers and agreed to undergo counseling. On Friday, he realized his childhood dream of being selected by Pittsburgh. The Steelers took him with the 24th pick of the second round (56th overall).

"I'm just happy to be a Steeler and very relieved that it's all over," Adams said in a conference call. "I love this organization and I'm glad to be a part of it. Every since I imagined playing in the NFL, the Steelers are the team I wanted. I grew up in Farrell, Pa., and when I was 4 years old my entire bedroom was Pittsburgh Steelers stuff. So it was important for me to reach out to them."

Adams watched the draft at Eddie George's bar and grill near the OSU campus with friends and family Friday night.

Posey was then taken by the Houston Texans in the third round, 68th overall. After that pick, Posey talked about learning from Pro Bowl receiver Andre Johnson.

“I can’t wait to just quiz Andre Johnson and ask him about everything he does,” he said. “I’m excited to get down to Houston and get to work … and follow in his footsteps.”

Posey was asked about the 10-game suspension he had to serve this past season at Ohio State.

“The first suspension happened when I sold my (Big Ten co-championship) ring my freshman year and missed five games,” Posey said. “The second one happened (because) I had a job and they told me I was overpaid for it. I made mistakes. It was something I learned my lessons from and I’m moving forward. It’s made me a better man and a better person.”

When he met with Texans personnel at the draft combine in February, he was candid about his transgressions.

“I had the official meeting where I got to meet everyone on their staff in a closed room,” he said. “I was open and honest and just told them everything that happened. I thought that it went well.”

Here is OSU’s release on these selections from Friday:

Ohio State left tackle Mike Adams and wide receiver DeVier Posey were selected on day two of the 2012 NFL Draft, being held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

Adams was the 24th pick (No. 56 overall) in the second round by the Pittsburgh Steelers while Posey went in the third round (No. 68 overall) to the Houston Texans.

A 6-8, 320-pounder from Dublin, Ohio and Dublin Coffman High School, Adams has been one of the best left tackles in the Big Ten Conference for the past two seasons. He was named first-team all-Big Ten as a junior and he picked up second-team honors in 2011 by both the coaches and media while playing in only seven games. He was named (along with center Mike Brewster) as the team’s 2011 Jim Parker Award winner as the team’s outstanding offensive lineman at the end of the season.

A three-year starter, Adams capped his collegiate career by starting in his 25th game at the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl. It was his 31st game played as a Buckeye. He started every game in which he played in 2010 (13) and 2011 (seven), and he closed his career by starting in his final 23 games.

Posey, 6-1 from Cincinnati LaSalle, closed out his career with 136 career receptions for 1,955 yards, numbers that rank sixth and eighth, respectively, all-time among Ohio State receivers. He also scored 18 receiving touchdowns to rank seventh on the all-time list. He is a four-year Varsity O letterwinner (2008-11) who played in 41 games, started 29 games and had a reception in each of his final 30 games played. He had six 100-yard receiving games, the eighth-most in school history.

Posey played in only Ohio State's final three games of 2011 and averaged 4.0 receptions per game (12 for 162 yards) with touchdown grabs of 43 yards vs. Michigan and 5 yards vs. Florida. He was the best receiver on the field in his three games in 2011 with four receptions for 66 yards vs. Penn State, three for 58 yards vs. Michigan and five for 38 yards vs. Florida. He was named honorable mention all-Big Ten Conference as a junior in 2010 after a 53-reception season that included 848 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. He had 100-yard receiving games vs. Miami (105), Indiana (103) and Minnesota (115).