National signing day: Lightly recruited Adkins embracing opportunity with NMSU Adam Zuvanich He did not want to visit an amusement park or video arcade. A party at a popular, kid-friendly restaurant did not appeal to him either. For his sixth birthday, Josh Adkins wanted to go to Austin and watch the Texas Longhorns play football in person. So his parents granted the wish. More than a decade later, the Smithson Valley quarterback wanted to play for UT. But that wish did not come true and there was nothing his parents could do about it. Adkins and about a dozen of his relatives were wearing crimson and white instead of burnt orange Wednesday morning as they donned hats and shirts that said Aggies. Adkins signed a letter of intent to continue his career at New Mexico State, which is his new favorite college team. The only Aggies I would cheer for, Adkins said. Adkins is heading to Las Cruces in part because Texas, Texas A&M and the other prominent programs in his home state did not invite him to come their way. He said his other scholarship offers came from UTSA, Incarnate Word and Miami (Ohio), along with Ivy League schools Brown and Cornell. Longtime Smithson Valley coach Larry Hill said there is no doubt the 6-foot-2, 215-pound Adkins, the 2016 Express-News Offensive Player of the Year, deserved more recruiting attention while becoming the Rangers most productive quarterback. Adkins is Smithson Valley s all-time leader with 4,948 passing and 8,019 total yards and also owns the program record for completion percentage (62.5). He tied the school record with 45 career touchdown passes. East quarterback Josh Adkins of Smithson Valley throws during the San Antonio Sports All-Star Game at the Alamodome on Jan. 7, 2017. Photo: Billy Calzada /San Antonio Express-News / San Antonio Express-News Photo: Billy Calzada /San Antonio Express-News NMSU News Clips (1 of 5) Marketing and Communications
Photo: Kin Man Hui /San Antonio Express-News Smithson Valley s quarterback Josh Adkins runs on a keeper against Clemens at Lehnhoff Stadium on Oct. 14, 2016. Photo: Tom Reel /San Antonio Express-News Quarterback Josh Adkins scrambles out of the pocket as Smithson Valley hosts Steele at Ranger Stadium on Sept. 16, 2016. NMSU News Clips (2 of 5) Marketing and Communications
Photo: Tom Reel /San Antonio Express-News Smithson Valley quarterback Josh Adkins scrambles for yards against Judson at Ranger Stadium on Oct. 28, 2016. Photo: Ron Cortes /For The Express-News Steele defensive tackle Josh Croslen practices at the school on Dec. 13, 2016. NMSU News Clips (3 of 5) Marketing and Communications
Photo: Ron Cortes /For The Express-News Steele defensive tackle Josh Croslen takes down Brant Kuithe from Richmond Cinco Ranch during their state semifinal playoff game at the Alamodome on Dec. 10, 2016. Adkins spent the last three years working with Bay Bay McClinton, a San Antonio athletic trainer who said he helped develop former NFL players Priest Holmes and N.D. Kalu as well as Smithson Valley product Andrew Sendejo, now a safety for the Minnesota Vikings. Looking at those kids, training them and watching Josh, he should have gotten bigger offers, McClinton said. He s a big quarterback and he can throw. He s a smart kid, a good kid, he makes good grades, he makes great decisions, and that s what it takes to be a great quarterback. So New Mexico State, they got a steal. Hill echoed that assessment, saying Adkins ability to combine arm strength with pinpoint accuracy is his greatest asset. The coach also raved about Adkins intangibles, saying the Rangers knew they had something pretty special when he won the starting quarterback role during spring practice of his freshman year. Hill said other Smithson Valley players gravitated to Adkins because of his work habits and team-first mentality. Hill said the up-and-coming quarterbacks in the program are preparing themselves the way Adkins did. His inner drive to win also has rubbed off the Rangers, who went 24-12 with four playoff wins with Adkins leading the offense. His father, Steve Adkins, said his son has been competitive since he came out of the womb. He s definitely a leader, said Smithson Valley defensive lineman Brandon Arnold, who signed with Lamar on Wednesday. He s the hardest-working person on the team. He s very consistent. NMSU News Clips (4 of 5) Marketing and Communications
Josh Adkins is eager to bring those qualities to New Mexico State, which has experienced 12 consecutive losing seasons. He said he welcomes the challenge of trying to lead a turnaround for the Aggies and hopes to play as early in his career as possible, perhaps as a true freshman. He also harbors no ill will toward the programs that overlooked him. I don t look at what could have been, Adkins said. I just committed (in August) and have had no regrets, and I don t think I will have regrets. I m ready to go full-fledged to Las Cruces and give everything I have for that town and that program. The parents who took him to Austin to watch the Longhornsfeel much the same about the situation. They said they were just as enamored with New Mexico State as their son was, and they are looking forward to traveling there and watching him play. The other guys just missed out, Steve Adkins said. That s OK. Croslen doesn t sign: Steele defensive tackle Josh Croslen, the Express-News Defensive Player of the Year, holds several major-college offers but did not sign a letter of intent Wednesday. The 6-1, 280-pound Croslen had been committed to Minnesota until last week, when he announced on Twitter he was withdrawing his commitment. According to 247Sports.com, he also has offers from Air Force, Bowling Green, Colorado State, Houston, Louisiana-Monroe, Navy, North Texas, Southern Mississippi, SMU, Texas State and UTSA. Croslen registered 75 tackles, 28 tackles for loss and 10 sacks as a senior, helping the Knights reach the Class 6A Division II state championship game. NMSU News Clips (5 of 5) Marketing and Communications