Boom. Boom.

An ASU player swings a sledgehammer into the side of a large construction tire.

"That's muscle beach and muscle beach is no joke," explained defensive tackle Corey Adams.

The tire along with two stationary bikes and some weight equipment make up muscle beach, an area in the south corner of the Kajikawa Practice Fields where injured players rehab while their teammates practice.

Adams spent the start of spring football practice at muscle beach trying to recover from a calf injury he suffered in January. It was yet another setback for the former Scottsdale Saguaro high standout.

"I get hurt. I get healthy. I get hurt again," he said.

Back surgery ended Adams' freshman year after eight games. Knee surgery kept him off the field for the first three games his sophomore year; and then there was an ankle injury last spring.

"Being hurt, hurts," said Adams. "It makes me have to wake up earlier and takes away my free time. I don't enjoy being hurt by any means."

Adams, though keeps coming back. He appeared in all 13 games -- including making one start -- last season.

"I do everything I can to try and stay healthy; just things happen. It's the way the sport works.

"[It's] my determination," he continued. "It's my senior year. I'm just trying to come out and impress, build a relationship with these new coaches first and foremost."

Adams went through his first full practice last week. Head coach Todd Graham took notice of the 6-3, 283- pounder. "He looked really good. Getting him back is going to help."

Adams admited he's a little rusty, adding he's six weeks behind everyone else.

"A lot of these guys out here have been running around with this new tempo we've got.

"I really want to show (defensive line coach Paul Randolph) what I'm all about; and now that I have the opportunity to finally be on the gridiron once again I'm taking advantage of it."

Adams hopes he's made his last trip to muscle beach.