Black Knight football standouts represent community on national level
One traveled 909 miles to reach his destination; the other logged 2,166.
Both returned to Graham County with national exposure and appropriate hardware.
Black Knight seniors Cuttler Adams and Chase Calhoun recently participated in a pair of nationwide bowl games, which effectively capped their representation of the storied Robbinsville dynasty. Adams played in the Blue/Grey All-American Bowl – held Jan. 8 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas – while Calhoun was selected to suit up for the sixth annual 7G Foundation Indigenous Bowl held Dec. 21 on the Soboba Indian Reservation in Hemet, Calif.
“The turf was unlike anything I had ever played on in my life. When I fell, it was like falling on a mattress,” said Adams of his time inside the cavernous facility. “But we had a big crowd there, and when it got loud it sounded like a Robbinsville game. I couldn’t have imagined 100,000 people in the stadium; it would be unreal.”
As the name indicates, the Indigenous Bowl is made up strictly of Native American athletes. Calhoun joined a former classmate from Cherokee on the journey, Mato Grant.
The atmosphere on the field was still as competitive, but Calhoun’s bowl experience was unique to say the least.
“It was back in the sticks,” Calhoun said. “We had no cell service. It got intense; they were getting mouthy out there, but it was pretty cool.”
Despite the distance from Graham County, both made themselves right at home upon arrival to their respective assignments. Adams and Calhoun each had three days to form a game plan with their teams, attend banquets, make media rounds and prepare for the spotlight.
“One thing I can say is that all the guys were winners,” Adams said. “It was one of the most non-selfish groups I’ve been a part of. If there was a meeting, everyone showed up. That showed me all the kids wanted to win, and I was proud to be a part of that.”
“I roomed with a guy from Arizona. It was awkward at first, but by the end of the week we were best friends,” added Calhoun, who is waiting on his MVP medallion to be shipped home.
Adams found himself on the field for the first offensive series. Representing the East, he took the second snap from scrimmage and, in typical fashion, broke free on a 65-yard run that helped set up an easy touchdown to begin the game.
He later scored on a 10-yard carry in the third.
“When I lined up and looked at the guys, I thought, ‘I’m running with a purpose. They don’t know who they’re about to tackle,’” Adams said. “That was my mindset. Breaking that big run was an awesome feeling, because I knew I had done it against some of the best in the country.”
What’s next?
Ten schools have made their interest known for Adams – the all-time western North Carolina rushing leader – and his talents: Catawba College, Yale University, Maryville College, Greensboro College, Lehigh University, Columbia University, Georgetown University, Gardner-Webb University, Lenoir-Rhyne University and Dartmouth College.
In a Monday interview with The Graham Star, Adams indicated that his list of choices had been significantly whittled down, but he would not spill the beans on his decision.
Adams plans to reveal it Feb. 1 – National Signing Day.
“I don’t have a lot of time with my family,” Adams noted. “I don’t want football to be above my family, or the Lord.”
As for Calhoun, the thought of college football seemed tempting for a time.
Instead, the two-way threat has opted to focus on his academic pursuits. Calhoun told the Star that while undecided on a major, he wants to stay within a three-hour drive home and has applied to institutions that fit the bill.