'14 NY DT Thomas Holley (Florida Verbal)

[koonja]

What DT wouldn't want to play behind Nix for one year? Learn from a future first rounder.

It's likely that Nix is about to play his final year here.

 

[Luckylucci]

Nix is definitely gone after this season. Degree and 1st round pick is quite the achievement.

 

[STLDomer]

Sampson is hearing Holley will likely not go South which IMO would obviously REALLY REALLY increase NDs chances.

 

[Luckylucci]

Well then using Keurilic's math there is a 200% chance he goes to OSU.

 

[ACamp1900]

What DT wouldn't want to play behind Nix for one year? Learn from a future first rounder.

Eddie Vanderdoes

 

[dwshade]

Well then using Keurilic's math there is a 200% chance he goes to OSU.

LOL.

 

[BeauBenken]

Sampson is hearing Holley will likely not go South which IMO would obviously REALLY REALLY increase NDs chances.

I like this if true.

 

[Luckylucci]

Sampson also said that he's hearing that Penn State is a bigger player here than most expect. Definitely didn't expect that.

 

[koonja]

IDK, last cycle and this, I'm about as worried about PSU as I am University of Anchorage. IDK how someone could want to go there and sit out of bowls.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Sampson also said that he's hearing that Penn State is a bigger player here than most expect. Definitely didn't expect that.

I believe we have been down this road with a kid from Brooklyn before.

I just don't think the hair will be there to bring coffee at 4 am.

 

[NDPhilly]

Jay Hayes needs to get on this one. Poly Prep (Hayes' HS) is literally 10 min from Abraham Lincoln HS (Holley and Ishaq's HS) in Brooklyn.

 

[Cpnd1]

Jay Hayes needs to get on this one. Poly Prep (Hayes' HS) is literally 10 min from Abraham Lincoln HS (Holley and Ishaq's HS) in Brooklyn.

I thought the same thing, yet it seems like Jay is focusing more of his attention on Elam (Jay's last 4-5 tweets have mentioned him). Wonder if the staff feel more confident with Elam then Holley?

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

I thought the same thing, yet it seems like Jay is focusing more of his attention on Elam (Jay's last 4-5 tweets have mentioned him). Wonder if the staff feel more confident with Elam then Holley?

I would love it if they were more confident with Elam then Holley. I would feel pretty good even if they only felt more confident with Elam than with Holley.

 

[NDWorld247]

I thought the same thing, yet it seems like Jay is focusing more of his attention on Elam (Jay's last 4-5 tweets have mentioned him). Wonder if the staff feel more confident with Elam then Holley?

Hayes knows twitter isn't the best way to recruit Holley. Elam and Holley are like polar opposites when it comes to their twitter habits. It wouldn't surprise me if Hayes and Holley have started building a relationship on some bball court in Brooklyn. Holley will be Irish and Hayes will do his part.

 

[Cpnd1]

Hayes knows twitter isn't the best way to recruit Holley. Elam and Holley are like polar opposites when it comes to their twitter habits. It wouldn't surprise me if Hayes and Holley have started building a relationship on some bball court in Brooklyn. Holley will be Irish and Hayes will do his part.

Really hope so, would love to see Thomas in the blue and gold. If Sampson doesn't think that Thomas will go south, and thinks that PSU is a major player, what other northern schools is Thomas looking at beside ND, OSU, and PSU?

 

[STLDomer]

Hayes knows twitter isn't the best way to recruit Holley. Elam and Holley are like polar opposites when it comes to their twitter habits. It wouldn't surprise me if Hayes and Holley have started building a relationship on some bball court in Brooklyn. Holley will be Irish and Hayes will do his part.

this x 100

I think the staff is recruiting Holley perfectly based on his personality. I thought the same when ppl were worried that ND wasn't recruiting him as hard as other schools.

 

[Luckylucci]

Really hope so, would love to see Thomas in the blue and gold. If Sampson doesn't think that Thomas will go south, and thinks that PSU is a major player, what other northern schools is Thomas looking at beside ND, OSU, and PSU?

I believe that's it.

 

[stlnd01]

I believe that's it.

Then I like our chances. Lately a lot of top-tier kids, especially from out of state, flirt with PSU but don't sign there.

 

[PANDFAN]

“He said he liked the school and it’s a beautiful campus [and] the coaches treat you right up there,” said Holley, who also spoke with four-star quarterback commit DeShone Kizer.

Following a tour of the school and facilities, Holley spoke with the Notre Dame coaches about how he would fit into their 3-4 defensive scheme. The 6-foot-4, 300-pound Holley, the No. 8 defensive tackle nationally, could play a multitude of positions in South Bend.

“They’re saying because of my athleticism and strength I could play nose tackle or the defensive end position,” Holley said. “I’d be well-versed in those positions.”

It was Holley’s first time at Notre Dame, and he expected to see a school rich in tradition. He was blown away by just how steep the program is in tradition and how it even carries over to the university.

“It’s a lot of tradition, and the thing I like about Notre Dame is everything has been there from the beginning and they renovate it to keep it the same,” Holley said.

Notre Dame is no stranger to Holley’s high school as former ESPN 150 defensive lineman Ishaq Williams just wrapped up his second season at Notre Dame. However, Holley, ranked No. 1 in New York, was a transfer to Abraham Lincoln in Brooklyn, so the two have never met. Holley has Williams’ number and the two text messaged each other occasionally.

Holley and Williams missed each other again last week as Williams was going to a concert in nearby Chicago. Williams told Holley about his experience at Notre Dame, which has been mostly positive after an intense transition of going from New York City to South Bend, Ind.

osu part
Holley headed east to Columbus for his first visit to Ohio State. He toured the sports complex and facilities and was shown the Heisman Trophies and pictures and posters of former players.

He talked to a few of the players and went around the school to meet with the academic advisors before ending his trip with a visit with Urban Meyer.

“He was talking about the opportunities they have and the things they have for [players] to be able to put in an opportunity to succeed in life, whether football or from a working standpoint, because they have a large network of alumni there,” Holley said.

The academic portion of his visit stood out most to Holley. Obviously, the four-star defensive tackle would like to follow his college career with a chance to play in the NFL, but he knows his Ohio State degree will set him up for a career once his playing days end.

“One thing I did like about them is they make [their athletes] put together a résumé and have [employers] come in,” he said, “so you can graduate or go to the NFL and retire and then have an opportunity to have a job and not sit around sending out hundreds of résumés.”

Now that Holley has made several visits, he is nearing the point when he could name some schools as favorites. He is not ready to publicly name which schools and visits impressed him the most until he talks it over with his family. He would like to return to some schools for a second trip with his mother, who will join him as she was unable to make some of the earlier visits.

Holley could make a few more unofficial visits this summer but is not sure of the destinations.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

osu part
Holley headed east to Columbus for his first visit to Ohio State. He toured the sports complex and facilities and was shown the Heisman Trophies and pictures and posters of former players.

He talked to a few of the players and went around the school to meet with the academic advisors before ending his trip with a visit with Urban Meyer.

“He was talking about the opportunities they have and the things they have for [players] to be able to put in an opportunity to succeed in life, whether football or from a working standpoint, because they have a large network of alumni there,” Holley said.

The academic portion of his visit stood out most to Holley. Obviously, the four-star defensive tackle would like to follow his college career with a chance to play in the NFL, but he knows his Ohio State degree will set him up for a career once his playing days end.

“One thing I did like about them is they make [their athletes] put together a résumé and have [employers] come in,” he said, “so you can graduate or go to the NFL and retire and then have an opportunity to have a job and not sit around sending out hundreds of résumés.”

Um ok...

 

[Domina Nostra]

Um ok...

Change employers to boosters, and it sounds about right.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Change employers to boosters, and it sounds about right.

Aaaaa that makes sense.

 

[woolybug25]

Sorry if this has already been addressed. Would we take both Holly and Elam?

 

[NDFAN22]

I pray to God "ND" would. Careful Sherm you will be chastised if you refer ND to "we".

 

[Luckylucci]

Sorry if this has already been addressed. Would we take both Holly and Elam?

I think so because in one of his recent interviews from last weekend Holley mentions that they see him as a NT and DE prospect. I think of it as follows. We get both Holley at DE/DT and Elam NT/DT. We get only Holley, we beef up Holley and play him at NT/DT.

 

[Emcee77]

I think so because in one of his recent interviews from last weekend Holley mentions that they see him as a NT and DE prospect. I think of it as follows. We get both Holley at DE/DT and Elam NT/DT. We get only Holley, we beef up Holley and play him at NT/DT.

Right, I think we would take both because of Holley's flexibility to play DE.

 

[NDFAN22]

Lucky, what would you put the odds at getting both?

 

[Luckylucci]

Thats a tough question. Probably 20% we get both. Holley 50% and Elam 15%. I think we lead for Holley and are 3rd for Elam.

 

[Luckylucci]

Right, I think we would take both because of Holley's flexibility to play DE.

Then to take this even further, I think that Trumbetti can play CAT. If we miss on our top CAT prospects it wouldn't surprise me. Lets say there is a DE/DT that we like, we take him and put Trumbetti at CAT

 

[ginman]

Unless landing Holley increases the chances of landing Elam that doesn't seem right. Assuming your probabilities are accurate...guessing 10% to land both. I think anythime you can get 2 good DL you take them.