What happened to Corey Adams? Ole Miss and more pay tribute as star football player dies at 18

The University of Mississippi community is mourning the loss of an 18-year-old freshman football player, Corey Adams, after he was shot to death in Cordova, Tennessee, on Saturday night. The athlete from New Orleans was pronounced dead at the scene, shocking friends, family and teammates.

The Ole Miss football program expressed its grief through a statement released Sunday, July 20.

"We’re heartbroken by the passing of Corey Adams. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him," they wrote on X.

The program stated that it is attempting to process the tragic loss, and expressed prayers for Adam’s family. They said they would not be making any additional remarks, out of respect for his family.

We’re heartbroken by the passing of Corey Adams.



Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him. pic.twitter.com/sj7dzyWJbn

— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) July 20, 2025

The deputies responded to a shooting call at 10:14 pm Saturday in the 7300 block of Fern Glade Cove in Cordova, according to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. According to US Weekly, officers arrived to find several shell casings and determined there were five gunshot victims.

"They provided life-saving measures until Shelby County Fire arrived. Shelby County Fire personnel later pronounced the victim deceased on the scene," the police officers in Shelby said.

Corey Adams, who was in critical condition, was located in a car stopped by deputies at Forest Hill-Irene and Walnut Grove intersection. First responders performed life-saving techniques, but he was eventually pronounced dead at the scene.

Four other adult males were taken to local hospitals with injuries that were not believed to be life threatening. Officials have ruled the killing a homicide and have launched an investigation of what led up to the gunfire.

A look into Corey Adams' football career as more tributes pour in

A native of New Orleans, Corey Adams played high school football at Edna Karr High School. Measuring at 6’4” and 250 pounds, Adams was believed to have a great future as an athlete.

"I really do some crazy stuff. I’m aggressive. I’m hard. You can’t make me bow down. Somebody is going to have to surrender when I’m on the field. I don’t fear nobody, and that’s how it’s going to stay," he had said in a statement according to The Guardian.

-Corey Adams 18-year-old football player at Ole Miss killed in a late-night shooting outside Memphis.

-The freshman was identified as the victim of the shooting by the Shelby County Sheriff's Office in Tennessee

-Shooting allegedly took place at 10:14pm local time on Saturday pic.twitter.com/AszIuNQhXt

— Umair Javed (@umairjaved1591) July 20, 2025

Edna Karr High School wrote an emotional tribute on Facebook, calling Corey Adams “more than a football player.” The post read:

"Corey Adams was more than a football player! He was a friend, brother, son, student, and all around great young man. We never question God but this is one we just don’t understand. This wasn’t supposed to be the end of his story but we will #DoIt4Co."

Corey Adams became an early enrollee at Ole Miss in January and was already practicing with the team in preparation for the upcoming NCAA football season. Those who knew and loved him have expressed their grief and support to his family.

While tributes have flooded in from teammates, coaches and the broader football community, investigators are piecing together the circumstances that led to the shooting.