Starting receiver leaves Cats

WR Adams, two others leave UK football team

Special to the Herald-Leader

E.J. Adams, who started nine games at wide receiver for the University of Kentucky last season, is among three players who have left the football team, Coach Rich Brooks announced Friday.

Also departing are tight ends Chris Cessna and DeAunte Mason.

Adams played in 12 games as a junior in 2008, catching 14 passes for 180 yards. He came through spring practice as a regular in a UK receiving rotation also expected to include Randall Cobb, Kyrus Lanxter, Gene McCaskill and Eric Adeyemi.

Adams, from Stone Mountain, Ga., left the team for personal reasons, the school said. He plans to join former teammate Jeremy Jarmon in the NFL supplemental draft in July. Jarmon lost his final season of eligibility at UK last month when his random drug test was positive for a substance banned by the NCAA.

Adams played cornerback his first two seasons at UK before switching to receiver in 2008.

Cessna gave up football because of injuries, UK's news release said. He plans to stay in school and will receive a medical hardship scholarship. The redshirt freshman from North Laurel High School did not see varsity action during his two years with the team.

Mason, from Nashville, plans to transfer to another school. He was redshirted in 2008 as a freshman quarterback and moved to tight end during spring practice.