The more Klayton Adams researched the football program at Arizona State, the more the opening on the staff was a job he needed to pursue.

Herm Edwards plucked Adams from an impressive pool of applicants to replace the retired Dave Christensen as offensive line coach. He’ll also serve as running game coordinator.

Adams, 37, is expected to arrive in Tempe on Sunday after finishing up a brief family vacation on the East Coast.

“Not one person has anything bad to say about Coach Edwards,” Adams said by phone. “He’s just a great leader and a great motivator. That’s really important, especially with everything we’re all dealing with now. I’m really looking forward to working with him and the young men in the program.”

“You talk to people and everyone really sees this as a  program on the rise. You look at the plan in place and you want to see that everyone is all in, from the administration on down and that’s the case.”

Adams fits what ASU has dubbed its NFL Model, coming here after serving as assistant offensive line coach for the Indianapolis Colts the last two years. But he has experience in the college ranks as well.

Before taking the job with the Colts, Adams spent six seasons at Colorado where he served as co-offensive coordinator/offensive line coach (2018) and offensive line coach (2016-17) with stints coaching running backs and tight ends as well.

He also has roots in the Mountain West both as a player and a coach. He’s a product of Boise State where played center while earning a bachelor’s degree in mass communication with an emphasis in journalism.

He played for the Broncos’ 2003 and 2004 teams that boasted a combined 24-2 record, highlighted by a 13-1 mark his junior year when Boise State was ranked No. 15 in the Coaches poll and No. 16 in the final Associated Press poll. 

His coaching path also included stops at Sacramento State and San Jose State.

Zak Hill, who just rounded out his first season as ASU’s offensive coordinator, came to Tempe after time at Boise State. While the two didn’t cross paths there, they had some mutual connections. And Adams is familiar with the type of offense to which the Sun Devils have transitioned.

“I don’t know him (Hill) from there but we know a lot of the same people since we worked in the same conference,” Adams said. “I’m excited about working with him.”

Many might look at the move from the professional ranks to the college game as a demotion, but the newcomer doesn’t see it that way.

“There are good things about both. They’re just different,” Adams said. “Dealing with players of a college age you’re getting a chance to mentor them and shape them. That isn’t the case at the higher level. I’m looking forward to that part of it.”

The cupboard won’t exactly be bare when Adams arrives with ASU expected to return nine of 11 starters on offense with four of five lineman likely to come back. 

The Sun Devils boasted the top running game in the Pac-12 (264.2 ypg) despite not having a player back who contributed the previous season. Junior college transfer Rachaad White managed 420 yards on only 42 carries, while true freshman DeaMonte “Chip” Trayanum tallied 290 on 49 tries.

Adams said he has had some initial contact with a few of the veteran linemen but has not reached out to incoming recruits in his position group yet.

All coaches have to pass an NCAA test annually and Adams is waiting until he familiarizes himself with the latest college guidelines before reaching out to the newcomers just to make sure no lines are crossed.

While Adams will arrive soon, wife Stefani and their three daughters, ranging in ages from 8 to 12, are going to make the move when the school year is out.

“Everything happened so fast,” he said.  

Reach the reporter at [email protected] or 602 444-4783.  Follow her on Twitter @MGardnerSports.

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