'14 NY DT Thomas Holley (Florida Verbal)

[STLDomer]

Saban saying he needs Holley isn't a lie, saying he's their #1 target would be but I've seen nothing that points to Alabama telling him that

 

[CanadalovesND]

A'Shawn Robinson, the 5* DT they signed last season, will actually play OL at Bama from all accounts I've read. That's why they were pursuing both Robinson and Vanderdoes hard towards the end of the recruiting season.

 

[NDWorld247]

I hope that young Thomas and his parents will be able to see through the con.

I have the utmost confidence Holley is not a recruit that will have the wool pulled over his eyes. Many kids raised on the streets of Brooklyn are much wiser than their years.

Holley has said he wants a coaching staff that can develop his raw talent. Alabama can certainly make a strong case for developing defensive lineman and I have no doubt this will be their sales pitch (vs. early playing time which I don't think Holley has acknowledged as a factor). In the end though, I'd rather go head to head with Bama for Holley than go head to head with PSU, as strange as that sounds.

 

[STLDomer]

I have the utmost confidence Holley is not a recruit that will have the wool pulled over his eyes. Many kids raised on the streets of Brooklyn are much wiser than their years.

Holley has said he wants a coaching staff that can develop his raw talent. Alabama can certainly make a strong case for developing defensive lineman and I have no doubt this will be their sales pitch (vs. early playing time which I don't think Holley has acknowledged as a factor). In the end though, I'd rather go head to head with Bama for Holley than go head to head with PSU, as strange as that sounds.

Holley has actually stated that he wants a coach that will understand that he's raw and new to football so early PT is not a factor at all, if anything he doesn't expect it. Agreed about PSU vs Bama. PSU has a lot going for them here (Distance & Coach Johnson most prominently).

 

[dwshade]

From everything I've heard Holley will attend college in the north. ND, PSU, OSU. One of those three gets him.

 

[koonja]

From everything I've heard Holley will attend college in the north. ND, PSU, OSU. One of those three gets him.

IDK what your sources are, but that's funny, because he's been quoted saying 'he'll probably end up in the South'.

 

[NDWorld247]

IDK what your sources are, but that's funny, because he's been quoted saying 'he'll probably end up in the South'.

That's not true at all. All of my vbucks if you can produce that quote from Holley.

 

[Luckylucci]

Remember that he took trips to the south first so that might be what your thinking of. After his midwest visits 247, rivals, and ISD have all said this is currently a battle between PSU, ND, and OSU. With people in his camp saying he wants to stay north.

 

[koonja]

Holley was on the Yahoo Rivals radio this weekend at the Rivals100 event in Chicago. During the interview, Holley stated something along the lines of he will "most likely" or "very probably" -- something like that--- go to school in the south. Take it for what it's worth though because the radio personalities seemed like SEC homers and were basically probing him to that that sort of response by talking up the SEC, etc.

^

I'm not saying he won't end up in the 'North'.

 

[T Town Tommy]

I look at Holley's visit to Bama two ways. One - Saban is not comfortable with the current situation regarding his top recruits on the DL and is bringing in Holley as a possible viable alternative to those targets. I have long said I don't think he gets Elam so Holley would be a great addition as an alternative even if he projects at a different position. Bama already has one NG committed. Two - the suggestion that Holley wants to play in the south are more true than many think and if so, Bama would be a likely choice for him to at least visit. Still, I don't think he comes south. I think it is ND and PSU as of now.

 

[NDdomer2]

Tommy, did you used to work on the docks?

was it tough so tough?

 

[NDWorld247]

I listened to that interview. The hosts basically put those words in his mouth. Something like "you'd be crazy not to want to get out of the north and go south where the weather is nice year round". He laughed it off. I have watched several interviews with him and nothing I've heard leads me to believe he is a lock for the south.

My response to Jmunsirish post at the time...

I encourage you to listen to the interview for yourself. Here's the link: Thomas Holley – 18 Month Crash Course | Yahoo Sports Radio

 

[T Town Tommy]

Tommy, did you used to work on the docks?

was it tough so tough?

Didn't work on the docks but a few coeds would probably say I gave love a bad name.... even if it was only for two minutes each time. LOL

 

[Whiskeyjack]

In the end though, I'd rather go head to head with Bama for Holley than go head to head with PSU, as strange as that sounds.

Same here. I'd almost always rather go head-to-head against a very different program than a similar program. It allows the staff to more easily differentiate what ND offers; which (theoretically) should give us a good read on which way the kid is leaning sooner than later.

 

[koonja]

My response to Jmunsirish post at the time...

I encourage you to listen to the interview for yourself. Here's the link: Thomas Holley – 18 Month Crash Course | Yahoo Sports Radio

They were talking about the places he's interested in visiting, and the announcers go: "So it sounds like you're going to leave the East Coast? Go somewhere South?"

And TH goes "It's a high probability but I'm not going to jump to conclusions".

I heard zero bias or putting words in his mouth. They're from Chicago afterall... You could argue that he's saying 'high probability' he leaves the East Coast and he's not talking about going South, but who knows. But yeah, there was no bias or putting words in his mouth if you ask me.

 

[Luckylucci]

They were talking about the places he's interested in visiting, and the announcers go: "So it sounds like you're going to leave the East Coast? Go somewhere South?"

And TH goes "It's a high probability but I'm not going to jump to conclusions".

I heard zero bias or putting words in his mouth. They're from Chicago afterall... You could argue that he's saying 'high probability' he leaves the East Coast and he's not talking about going South, but who knows. But yeah, there was no bias or putting words in his mouth if you ask me.

Keep in mind that was prior to him visiting ND and OSU, its been said that those visits made a significant impact on him.

 

[koonja]

Keep in mind that was prior to him visiting ND and OSU, its been said that those visits made a significant impact on him.

I'm not saying it's unlikely he ends up at ND/OSU, but just disagreeing that we've heard he wants to be in the North. That makes it sound like he doesn't like the south, but from that interview, he does.

Edit: Rereading the OP's post, he didn't say that TH wants to play in the North, only that he will. That is true, so forget what I said. I thought he was saying that he prefers to play in the North.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Ok guys....crystal ball prediction...where does he end up?

I'm saying Notre Dame some how some way lands him.

 

[STLDomer]

Ok guys....crystal ball prediction...where does he end up?

I'm saying Notre Dame some how some way lands him.

Right now, Penn State.

If he visits again, Notre Dame.

 

[Luckylucci]

Right now, Penn State.

If he visits again, Notre Dame.

I share this exact view. However I don't see anyway that he doesn't visit ND again. Whether it be an OV or coming with Ishaq's dad for a weekend, so I'll say in the end ND.

 

[NDWorld247]

They were talking about the places he's interested in visiting, and the announcers go: "So it sounds like you're going to leave the East Coast? Go somewhere South?"

And TH goes "It's a high probability but I'm not going to jump to conclusions".

I heard zero bias or putting words in his mouth. They're from Chicago afterall... You could argue that he's saying 'high probability' he leaves the East Coast and he's not talking about going South, but who knows. But yeah, there was no bias or putting words in his mouth if you ask me.

I just listened to the interview again. The hosts said "You're not going to stay on the east coast then? It sounds like you've kind of made up your mind that it's going to be somewhere in the South and in the warmth". Yet, all Holley was talking about was an opportunity to check out schools outside of NYC, including east coast schools like Syracuse, Rutgets, Penn State, etc, and nothing he said indicated he had made up his mind about getting out of NYC or the east coast. To me, that definitely showed bias and putting words into his mouth.

The hosts also said, "We jump to conclusions. That's what we are paid to do", in response to Holley's quote about jumping to conclusions. Those guys were clowns.

Point is, Holley hasn't really tipped his hand one way or another. He could end up in the South or he could end up in the North. Either way, Holley hasn't said publicly which way he is leaning and all of the speculation about where he ends up is simply that, speculation.

Personally I think he ends up at ND. If he goes anywhere besides ND or PSU I'll be surprised.

 

[koonja]

I just listened to the interview again. The hosts said "You're not going to stay on the east coast then? It sounds like you've kind of made up your mind that it's going to be somewhere in the South and in the warmth". Yet, all Holley was talking about was an opportunity to check out schools outside of NYC, including east coast schools like Syracuse, Rutgets, Penn State, etc, and nothing he said indicated he had made up his mind about getting out of NYC or the east coast. To me, that definitely showed bias and putting words into his mouth.

The hosts also said, "We jump to conclusions. That's what we are paid to do", in response to Holley's quote about jumping to conclusions. Those guys were clowns.

Point is, Holley hasn't really tipped his hand one way or another. He could end up in the South or he could end up in the North. Either way, Holley hasn't said publicly which way he is leaning and all of the speculation about where he ends up is simply that, speculation.

Personally I think he ends up at ND. If he goes anywhere besides ND or PSU I'll be surprised.

This is a moot point by now, but there's no bias in that interview. If you're finding one, I think you're being bias yourself. They ask that based on what Holley's talking about in the interview. Again, they're Chicago reporters.

 

[dwshade]

I'm not saying it's unlikely he ends up at ND/OSU, but just disagreeing that we've heard he wants to be in the North. That makes it sound like he doesn't like the south, but from that interview, he does.

Edit: Rereading the OP's post, he didn't say that TH wants to play in the North, only that he will. That is true, so forget what I said. I thought he was saying that he prefers to play in the North.

TJ and PS at II are convinced from what they know that he's staying north for college. What's good for us is his HS coach and uncle are very involved in his recruitment and appear to be in our corner. As others have said if it's someone other than ND or PSU I'd be very surprised.

 

[NDWorld247]

This is a moot point by now, but there's no bias in that interview. If you're finding one, I think you're being bias yourself. They ask that based on what Holley's talking about in the interview. Again, they're Chicago reporters.

I think you're being bias by calling me bias for thinking they were bias. And, one of the "Chicago" reporters left to go somewhere warm, soooo, he's bias. We can agree to disagree. It's not a big deal as we've established he is not quoted as saying "he'll probably end up in the South".

 

[STLDomer]

Top 5 per Rivals:

Penn State - Can tell how much they want him, has been there multiple times, Coach Johnson

Rutgers - Close to home, coaching staff

Florida - great atmosphere and facilities, winning

OSU - academics are "very good", Vrabel/Meyer/Warriner, tradition

Notre Dame - Similiar to OSU, Diaco/Alford, tradition


If he hasn't differentiated between OSU & ND we could be in trouble here IMO

 

[IrishLax]

Top 5 per Rivals:

Penn State - Can tell how much they want him, has been there multiple times, Coach Johnson

Rutgers - Close to home, coaching staff

Florida - great atmosphere and facilities, winning

OSU - academics are "very good", Vrabel/Meyer/Warriner, tradition

Notre Dame - Similiar to OSU, Diaco/Alford, tradition


If he hasn't differentiated between OSU & ND we could be in trouble here IMO

Nailed it with your last sentence.

 

[AllGoldEverything]

Top 5 per Rivals:

Penn State - Can tell how much they want him, has been there multiple times, Coach Johnson

Rutgers - Close to home, coaching staff

Florida - great atmosphere and facilities, winning

OSU - academics are "very good", Vrabel/Meyer/Warriner, tradition

Notre Dame - Similiar to OSU, Diaco/Alford, tradition


If he hasn't differentiated between OSU & ND we could be in trouble here IMO

 

[Luckylucci]

Not a pro ND update that's for sure.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

 

[Luckylucci]

That's kind of how feel about it to whiskey, haha