JONESBORO, Ark. (5/1/21) – A pair of former Arkansas State football standouts in wide receiver Jonathan Adams Jr. and defensive lineman Forrest Merrill have signed NFL free agent contracts with the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers, respectively.
 
Adams completed his senior season in 2020 with 79 receptions for 1,111 yards and 12 touchdowns, earning a place on six different All-America teams.  He was tabbed the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year and a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist.
 
The Jonesboro, Ark., native finished his four-year career with the Red Wolves with 21 receiving touchdowns, which stand as the second most in school history and as the fifth most ever by a Sun Belt Conference player.  He also racked up 166 career receptions for 2,306 yards, ranking as the third and fifth most in program history, respectively.
 
Merrill was a two-time All-Sun Belt Conference selection at Arkansas State, earning the recognition as a senior in 2020 and sophomore in 2018.  He started all 11 games as a senior, posting 42 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
 
A 2020 William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist, Merrill ended his three-year career at A-State with 121 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.  The Willard, Mo. native was listed as member of the Senior Bowl "Top 250" entering the 2020 campaign.