Just like his college teammate, the Arizona Cardinals drafted a mauler in Isaiah Adams

He might appear as a calm, charming and even-keeled gentleman upon first blush, but just like his former Illinois college teammate and fellow Arizona Cardinals draft pick, tight end Tip Reiman, rookie offensive lineman Isaiah Adams has a nasty streak inside him when he steps between the white lines.

Whether it’s blowing somebody up across the line whenever he has the chance or having a penchant for maybe getting hit with post-play penalties for being a little too aggressive, Adams has a lot of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in his bones and soul.

“I will tell you what I have learned,” Illinois coach Bret Bielema once said of the 6-foot-4, 316-pound native of Ajax, Ontario, Canada. “Mr. Adams is a very nice, soft-spoken, kind individual, but on Saturdays he is a big-ass (jerk).”

“Jerk,” which wasn’t Bielema’s actual verbatim description of Adams, might be putting it mildly. Let Adams explain.

“Off the field, I’m really polite, kind of laid back,” he said recently during his introductory news conference in Tempe. “But on the field, pardon my language, it’s time to kill people. That’s the mission. That’s the job that’s required. It’s just a flip-the-switch mentality and that’s what I love to do.”

Oh, this is going to be fun.

Between Adams and Reiman, not to mention all the other team-first, hard-headed mercenaries the Cardinals have added through the draft and free agency, many of whom all seem to possess the same killer-instinct traits, things could get very interesting for this team in 2024 and beyond.

When it comes to Adams, specifically, a third-round pick who’s had a long and strange journey to the NFL from where he began, the Cardinals are invested and more than a little intrigued with what he can become.

General Manager Monti Ossenfort, for instance, said he’s fascinated with Adams’ full potential as a pro at the next level and added he was aware of Bielema’s half-joking “jerk” comments about Arizona’s first-year prospect.

After all, he sees the same type of passion and intensity in the kid who started off at tiny Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada, moved on to even tinier Garden City Community College in Kansas before transferring to Illinois and finding a home in the Big Ten.

“I like that. And you definitely can,” Ossenfort said when asked if Bielema’s comment about Adams is a positive review and if it shows up on film. “Physical, gritty, mean — that’s what you want in an O-lineman. … I love what Isaiah brings to the table, both on and off the field.”

Though he was asked to play right tackle last season due to the previous starter having suffered an injury, Adams’ natural position is left guard. Depending on how well he develops during the Cardinals’ continuing OTA sessions this offseason, he could get a shot at competing for the starting left guard spot along with a handful of veterans.

Elijah Wilkinson, 29, started nine games there last year. Trystan Colon, 26, started four games. Carter O’Donnell, 25, started three. All three are back and the Cardinals also signed a veteran in center Evan Brown, 27, who can also play guard.

Adams, 23, said he’s already in full “compete mode.” Things will ramp up considerably once training camp gets here later this summer, but in his mind, there’s no time to waste.

“That process has begun,” he said. “The moment you walk through the door, first impressions are everything. I’m so competitive, I’m so hard on myself, so even if I’m not competing with someone else I’m competing with who I was yesterday. So yeah, the competition has begun and I’m looking forward to it. I just want to keep getting better — be better than I was yesterday.”

The vibe around the team seems to be that Adams will emerge as the Cardinals’ starting left guard at some point, whether it’s this year, next year or even the year after. One thing is certain: He knows he eventually will be blocking for quarterback Kyler Murray on game days.

“I haven’t played with a guy that’s that fast and agile in the pocket,” Adams said, smiling. “But I’m excited to keep blocking. I love to strain. I love to block until the end of the whistle. So, the fact that plays are going to be a bit longer than I’m used to is something I’m looking forward to. I can’t wait to get knockdowns and help him do his job.”

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cardinals rookie guard Isaiah Adams has a nasty 'time to kill' streak