Adkins a Chieftain Today, Bulldog Tomorrow

Put your Adkins jersey on folks, this kid is going places.

While most athletes took the summer to work on conditioning, rest nagging injuries or just chill out with friendly pickup games, senior got down and dirty with his soccer future.

For starters, the four-year varsity standout verbally committed to continue his soccer and studies at Butler University in Indiana next fall. 

The Division I school pursued Adkins, its top recruit, for months and he made his decision to become a Bulldog just after the July 4th holiday.  Many schools dangled attractive offers to the crafty midfielder, including Michigan State, Oakland, Western Michigan and the University of Indianapolis. 

Let's just say the line to talk to this kid stretched from here to Indiana.

So why Butler?

"It was a big decision," said Adkins. "It basically came down to Butler or the University of Indianapolis, where my brother plays. The new coach at Butler, Paul Snape, used to be the assistant coach at the University of Michigan so he knew me through the Vardar Academy. He started recruiting me as soon as he got the job. I really like him, he's a cool guy. One of the other reasons I chose Butler is because I want to make my own path, I want to step out of my brother's footsteps." 

When he's not playing for Utica, Adkins lends his talents to the highly regarded Vardar Academy and it was on these pitches this spring and summer that the college scouts came calling.

This month the Academy team traveled to Germany for a two-week romp of the most competitive U19 soccer you can find.

"We were there for 12 days and played in two tournaments in Freiberg," said Adkins. "We played against seven youth-professional teams. We won the first tournament and lost in the second. We played against Manchester City, Bayer Leverkusen, Freiberg FC and others. The players on these teams are my age but they don't go to school anymore. They just get paid to play soccer and their futures depend on how well they play. Our team did really great there, especially in the first tournament. Personally, I had four goals in nine games and held my own."

With Butler University in his back pocket, Adkins can concentrate on his next task at hand—enjoying his final season at Utica.

"I am just so ready for my senior year and senior season," said Adkins. "I have nothing to worry about and nothing to prove to anyone.  Obviously I'm still going to work hard for Utica, I'm not going to take it off. But I am going to enjoy it. Everything is set and locked up; it's everything I've worked for. Now I can relax a bit and enjoy my senior year."

No doubt Butler is counting the days until Adkins can put on that Bulldog jersey, but they'll have to wait.

For now, it's Utica's turn.