When life gets a bit too stressful, Josh Adams likes to crank up his 2004 Honda Civic, roll down the windows, turn up the music and cruise along a scenic road.

Next fall, Adams, a Wake Forest running back from Cary, also hopes to do some cruising up and down the football field.

He spent last season pacing the sideline as a redshirt freshman, but it appears the eager Deacon will now get a chance to run as well as ride.

He finished spring practice No. 2 on the depth chart behind Kevin Harris, and ahead of De Angelo Bryant and Lucas Caparelli.

"I'm ready; I'm fired up, I think I've got a good shot,'' said Adams, still cognizant that he will have to grind it out daily to earn playing time.

The competition at running back will intensify even more in the fall with the return of standout Micah Andrews, who started in 2006, but missed most of the year and all of spring practice because of an injury.

Having five ball carriers is a different look for the ACC champion Deacons, who almost ran out of running backs last season because of injuries. Wide receiver Kenny Moore wound up the leading rusher, but is back catching passes at his natural position.

Adams arrived at Wake in 2006 as a swift, 5-foot- 11, 172-pounder popping with promise. He had rushed for a state-best 2,884 yards as a senior at Cary, amassed 8,631 all-purpose yards in his four high school years, and had recruiters from Georgia, Oklahoma and Tennessee among the many chasing him.

In spring drills, he showed the Deacons some of that old flash and dash.

"Josh especially did a good job," said Billy Mitchell, assistant head coach who works with the running backs. "His vision improved. He was making cuts and moves, making people miss him. He's very elusive, reading blocks, finding the holes.

"[And] he did a lot better job blocking than I expected. He'll get an opportunity for some playing time. If he continues like he did in the spring, he'll be right up there."

Adams has added about eight pounds -- up to 180 -- which helps when taking on the brawny pass rushers. Equally important, his speed of 4.5 to 4.6 in the 40 didn't dip.

"I felt good, stronger, putting on a little weight,'' said Adams, who also has gotten a better grip on coach Jim Grobe's diversified offensive scheme. "I'm trying to be disciplined in everything I do."

Adams said playing for Cary coach Ben Kolstad, who "really pushed me," helped prepare him for the rigors of college football.

Redshirting at Wake also proved beneficial, he believes, although spending Saturdays watching other running backs made him restless.

"It was tough, the first time [ever] sitting out,'' Adams recalled. "[But] I got to learn more about the system, develop as a player. It made me hungrier."

And ready to run like his Honda.