Akron.com

Former NFL athlete mentors Summit Academy students



Photo courtesy of Summit Academy

ELLET — Johnny Adams, former NFL defensive back for the Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans and Oakland Raiders, and a retired Canadian Football League player, has recently been visiting with students at Summit Academy Akron Elementary School through his Fight or Flight program, which he launched a few months ago. According to school officials, the program focuses on social-emotional teaching, including self-management, self-awareness, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making. During the sessions, Adams and students talk about life situations with the hope of guiding students toward success.
“Caring and relating to the students is the biggest thing,” said Adams, who is a Buchtel High School graduate. “I try to fill in all types of voids, to help out as much as possible on the surface. When I come to the school, I hope my hour or 45 minutes are impactful enough to help the kids make it to the next day.”
“Inner city kids like me, at Perkins [Middle School] and Buchtel, didn’t have a lot of mentors who looked like us, who understood the problems of our community, the trials and tribulations and suffering,” Adams added, describing his years growing up in Akron and why he started the program.
Adams, shown at right at the school, explained how his mentors — his coaches in basketball, track and football — encouraged him to go to college. He earned a bachelor’s degree in social science at Michigan State University. He also earned several honors, including First Team All-American Honors, three All Big Ten Defensive Back honors and Big Ten Champion awards.
Summit Academy Akron Elementary School Principal Dawn Presley said the impact Adams has made on students was prompt and positive. She added that many students have tough backgrounds, and while their visits to the office have not fully ceased, they have been tempered since sessions with Adams began.
Summit Academy Akron Elementary School is located at 2503 Leland Ave. Adams is also offering Fight or Flight in the LEAP Program’s SOAR Program, as well as at Towpath Trail High School and Buchtel Community Learning Center, where he also is the football team’s defensive coordinator.