Thomas Holley has more BCS-level scholarship offers than games of football experience.
Just months ago, the Lincoln High School junior defensive tackle was learning the proper way to put on shoulder pads; now he’s receiving recruiting calls from a who’s who of national powers.
“I figured I’d maybe get a few schools, but when schools like Florida State, Florida, Notre Dame and Miami start calling, it makes you wonder what I’ve been missing the last couple of years,” the 6-foot-4, 290-pound Holley said.
A basketball lifer, Holley began thinking about football when he got to high school. After transferring to Lincoln from Christ the King this fall, he approached Shawn O’Connor about joining the team.
The longtime coach figured Holley was like so many other kids who saw the glamour of the sport but wouldn’t follow through. The next morning, he had all his paperwork completed.
“I was very impressed, then I saw him on the field running with his speed and size. I was like, we’re on to something here,” O’Connor said of Holley, who also plays for Lincoln’s basketball team but plans to pursue football in college.
Holley’s eight-game highlight film — coupled with his size, speed and impressive transcript — has gotten the attention of college coaches quickly. UMass was the first school to offer, and Holley now has 10 offers from Florida State, Florida, Miami, Rutgers, Syracuse and Penn State, among others. O’Connor thinks Notre Dame will be next.
“It’s happened so fast,” Holley said. “I’m just trying to take everything in.”
Basketball
Christ the King guard Jon Severe, the top unsigned senior in the city, is visiting West Virginia this weekend. The Mountaineers and Pittsburgh were the latest to extend scholarship offers this week. St. Bonaventure, Rutgers, Seton Hall, Duquesne, and George Washington also are involved.
Former Boys & Girls star Rashad Andrews, currently at Lee Academy (Mass.), re-committed to Division II Adelphi Thursday afternoon after picking the Long Island school last year.
St. John’s target Rysheed Jordan, a highly ranked point guard from Philadelphia, remains down to the Johnnies, UCLA and Temple. St. John’s coach Steve Lavin attended his game on Thursday. Jordan is expected to decide in April.
Fairfield was in attendance Wednesday watching Christ the King senior point guard Malik Harmon.
Highly ranked Cincinnati commit Jermaine Lawrence of Queens will miss the remainder of the season with a wrist injury.