Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

Arkansas wide receiver/punt return specialist Joe Adams was selected No. 104 overall by the Carolina Panthers in the fourth round of the NFL Draft.

Adams, a consensus All-American, was the 16^th wide receiver taken in the draft. He caught 52 passes for 652 yards and three touchdowns, averaged 16.9 yards per punt return with four scores and averaged 13.9 yards per rush with a 92-yard touchdown.

"Joe Adams is an excellent returner," Panthers general manager Marty Hurney told Panthers.com. "He has big-play ability as a punt returner but can also compete at the slot position and outside at wide receiver."

Despite it taking some time to get drafted, Adams said he enjoyed the weekend with family in his hometown of Little Rock. Adams told media in Carolina he watched the entire draft.

“Everybody expects to go a little higher, but this is a great situation," Adams said. "I’m proud to be to be selected.”

Despite his explosive return and receiving ability, Adams ran only a 4.55 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. His time was considerably off the 4.3 he told reporters he hoped to run, but video of his time in college showed him to have plenty of game speed.

“Joe has an incredible amount of athletic ability and the tools to be successful in the NFL,” Arkansas Coach and former special teams coordinator John L. Smith said. “He and I had a great relationship and I enjoyed the opportunity I had to be his coach and a mentor.”

ArkansasSports360.com will update this post.