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Toledo Blade
Article published Thursday, April 20, 2006
Stock drops for OSU's Holmes
COLUMBUS - Two months ago, Ohio State's Santonio Holmes was considered a top-10 pick in the NFL draft.
He was expected to be the first wide receiver taken on April 29. But Holmes (5-foot-10 1/2, 186 pounds) has slipped a bit since then on most draft boards. He has been passed by Florida wideout Chad Jackson (6-1, 213), who is bigger and quicker. Jackson was the fastest offensive player at the NFL scouting combine in February. He surprised even himself by running the 40-yard dash in 4.32 seconds. Holmes ran in the mid-4.3s at Ohio State's pro day last month. He, Jackson and Miami's Sinorice Moss are the strongest receivers at a relatively weak position in this draft. One analyst has Holmes going to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 23rd pick of the first round; another has the Chicago Bears choosing him 26th. Holmes, who described himself as an "all-around playmaker, one of the best wide receivers possibly in the game right now," will be happy wherever he ends up. He is eager to start his pro career and show off his skills. "That was my reason for going to Ohio State, to be one of those top guys chosen," Holmes said. Holmes, from Belle Glade, Fla., was thrust into a starting role with the Buckeyes midway through the 2003 season when Drew Carter went down with a season-ending knee injury. Holmes has been the team's go-to guy the last two seasons. He had a team-high 53 catches for 977 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. He snagged a TD pass in the regular-season finale against hated Michigan and grabbed five passes for 124 yards and a touchdown against Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. Seconds after that game ended, Holmes announced he was bypassing his senior year to enter the NFL draft. He closed out his career as the fifth-leading receiver in Ohio State history with 141 receptions. His 25 touchdown catches and 2,295 receiving yards both rank third in school history. Holmes, who averaged 16.3 yards per catch the last three seasons, said his decision to leave school early was easy. He needed a security blanket for his ever-growing family - sons Santonio II (3) and Nicori (1) and daughter Saniya, who was born on Valentine's Day - and jumped at the opportunity to earn millions. "Knowing I have three kids to take care of, I want them to have a dad, something I didn't have," Holmes said. "I want to be there to support them. My mom was always a single parent raising four kids. I really want to support my mom." Holmes, who redshirted in 2002, originally considered turning pro after his sophomore season. But after being told that he would be the fourth or fifth-best receiver in a deep class, he called an audible and dashed back to the Buckeyes. NFL scouts and general managers like Holmes' hands, his blocking ability and his production. But some questioned his route-running ability in college and wonder if he'll be able to fight his way off the line of scrimmage. Holmes shrugged off the criticisms. He points to his boyhood hero, future Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, for inspiration. "He wasn't the fastest guy ever," Holmes said. "He's the type of guy that wouldn't let anybody outwork him." Holmes plans to follow a similar blueprint.
Article published Thursday, April 20, 2006
Stock drops for OSU's Holmes
COLUMBUS - Two months ago, Ohio State's Santonio Holmes was considered a top-10 pick in the NFL draft.
He was expected to be the first wide receiver taken on April 29. But Holmes (5-foot-10 1/2, 186 pounds) has slipped a bit since then on most draft boards. He has been passed by Florida wideout Chad Jackson (6-1, 213), who is bigger and quicker. Jackson was the fastest offensive player at the NFL scouting combine in February. He surprised even himself by running the 40-yard dash in 4.32 seconds. Holmes ran in the mid-4.3s at Ohio State's pro day last month. He, Jackson and Miami's Sinorice Moss are the strongest receivers at a relatively weak position in this draft. One analyst has Holmes going to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 23rd pick of the first round; another has the Chicago Bears choosing him 26th. Holmes, who described himself as an "all-around playmaker, one of the best wide receivers possibly in the game right now," will be happy wherever he ends up. He is eager to start his pro career and show off his skills. "That was my reason for going to Ohio State, to be one of those top guys chosen," Holmes said. Holmes, from Belle Glade, Fla., was thrust into a starting role with the Buckeyes midway through the 2003 season when Drew Carter went down with a season-ending knee injury. Holmes has been the team's go-to guy the last two seasons. He had a team-high 53 catches for 977 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. He snagged a TD pass in the regular-season finale against hated Michigan and grabbed five passes for 124 yards and a touchdown against Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. Seconds after that game ended, Holmes announced he was bypassing his senior year to enter the NFL draft. He closed out his career as the fifth-leading receiver in Ohio State history with 141 receptions. His 25 touchdown catches and 2,295 receiving yards both rank third in school history. Holmes, who averaged 16.3 yards per catch the last three seasons, said his decision to leave school early was easy. He needed a security blanket for his ever-growing family - sons Santonio II (3) and Nicori (1) and daughter Saniya, who was born on Valentine's Day - and jumped at the opportunity to earn millions. "Knowing I have three kids to take care of, I want them to have a dad, something I didn't have," Holmes said. "I want to be there to support them. My mom was always a single parent raising four kids. I really want to support my mom." Holmes, who redshirted in 2002, originally considered turning pro after his sophomore season. But after being told that he would be the fourth or fifth-best receiver in a deep class, he called an audible and dashed back to the Buckeyes. NFL scouts and general managers like Holmes' hands, his blocking ability and his production. But some questioned his route-running ability in college and wonder if he'll be able to fight his way off the line of scrimmage. Holmes shrugged off the criticisms. He points to his boyhood hero, future Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, for inspiration. "He wasn't the fastest guy ever," Holmes said. "He's the type of guy that wouldn't let anybody outwork him." Holmes plans to follow a similar blueprint.
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ScarletBlood31
Buckeye in Blacksburg
I would agree that Holmes has a certain confidence/swagger about him, but it is nowhere near the kind of thing that distracts teams, and ultimately destroys them. Holmes is a leader, not a cancer. His confidence that he has only comes from his competitiveness on the field, and his need to want to be the best guy on the field. He is the kind of guy that will do anything to help the team succeed, and puts the team first. That is the kind of confidence that every athlete should have.
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ysubuck
Be water my friend.
They question his route running ability?? I guess I have to defer as they have watched the film and are the experts, but that really seems odd. Santonio seemed to me to be one of the better route runners that I've seen. He adjusts well to the ball and to what the defense gives him.
Whoever lands him is landing a WR like Hines Ward (albeit a little smaller right now). He has done alright in the NFL, doncha think?
Whoever lands him is landing a WR like Hines Ward (albeit a little smaller right now). He has done alright in the NFL, doncha think?
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Maybe I missed something, but when was Santonio ever called a top ten pick? From what I've seen/heard, he was always seen as a mid first rounder and is still projected there.
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Exactly. At no time, by no publication that I've seen, was Holmes listed in the top ten. Holmes is a playmaker who will make some team very happy in the near future.
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BuckeyeKid789
Guest
Santonio Holmes:
2003- 32 rec 549 yds 17.2 avg 7 td's
2004- 55 rec 769 yds 14.0 avg 7 td's
2005- 53 rec 977 yds 18.3 avg 11 td's
Totals: 140 rec 2295 yds 16.4 avg 25 td's
Chad Jackson:
2003- 3 rec 38 yds 12.7 avg 1 td
2004- 29 rec 648 yds 22.3 avg 6 td's
2005- 88 rec 900 yds 10.2 avg 9 td's
Totals: 120 rec 1586 13.2 avg 16 td's
And people think Chad Jackson is the better reciever?
I posted this over on bucknuts too. Production on the field matters the most, not a 40 time.
2003- 32 rec 549 yds 17.2 avg 7 td's
2004- 55 rec 769 yds 14.0 avg 7 td's
2005- 53 rec 977 yds 18.3 avg 11 td's
Totals: 140 rec 2295 yds 16.4 avg 25 td's
Chad Jackson:
2003- 3 rec 38 yds 12.7 avg 1 td
2004- 29 rec 648 yds 22.3 avg 6 td's
2005- 88 rec 900 yds 10.2 avg 9 td's
Totals: 120 rec 1586 13.2 avg 16 td's
And people think Chad Jackson is the better reciever?
I posted this over on bucknuts too. Production on the field matters the most, not a 40 time.
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Santonio shows some real class in an interview on video that can be found at http://msn.foxsports.com/bestdamn. When asked if he would celebrate after his first NFL touchdown, he answers that Coach Tressel taught him not to celebrate but rather to "hand the ball to the official and show some class."
Great stuff!
Great stuff!
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Dispatch
4/24/06
4/24/06
NFL DRAFT
Holmes’ time to fly
Receiver knew OSU was right fit, thinks now is right time to move to NFL
Monday, April 24, 2006
Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Consistent and productive, Santonio Holmes leaves a legacy of his own among Ohio State’s best receivers.
Where his mother saw obstacles, Santonio Holmes saw opportunity.
Coming out of Belle Glade, Fla., the standout receiver was contemplating heading far away to Ohio State.
Beginning with Cris Carter in the mid-1980s and continuing through Joey Galloway, Terry Glenn and David Boston in the 1990s, the Buckeyes had been churning out top-flight NFL receivers.
Holmes’ mother, Patricia Brown, worried that her son would end up falling short by comparison.
"At first, it was a problem for me," Brown said. "Everybody before him was good, and you know how people get. But I had to put my trust in (Holmes) that he knows more than I do."
Four years later, it’s apparent mother did not know best. After putting himself among OSU’s greats, Holmes gave up his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL draft.
He is expected to be picked near the middle of the first round. That would make him just the fifth first-round OSU receiver.
That translates to immortality in the eyes of Buckeyes fans. Consider Holmes’ mission accomplished.
"That’s the reason why I went there, is the things those guys (Boston, Carter, etc.) did and getting an opportunity to be drafted," he said. "Those guys left behind a legacy, and now when I leave, my name will be mentioned in the elite class with those guys.
"Everywhere I go, there will be Buckeyes fans, and people remember you, regardless of how many years back (you played)."
Holmes redshirted in the nationaltitle year of 2002. Brown said her son was homesick "for the first month or so, but afterward he was fine."
He got his first chance to play extensively when Drew Carter suffered a knee injury midway through the 2003 season. Holmes’ strong finish that year propelled him into a starring role in 2004 and 2005.
His hallmark was consistency, both in catches per game and reaching the end zone. Last season, he caught either four or five passes in each of the first eight games, and ended with 11 touchdowns.
For his career, he scored a TD for every 5.6 receptions.
"He did great, more than I expected of him," Brown said. "Everything he said he wanted to do, he did it."
And that was the main reason Holmes left a year early, although he is taking classes during spring quarter and hopes to graduate in June.
Holmes briefly considered turning pro after the 2004 season. He had two young children back in Florida (another was born this February in Ohio.)
After his 2005 campaign, capped by 11 catches, 196 yards and two TDs in games against Michigan and Notre Dame, he knew it was time to fly.
The prospect of staying for 2006 and climbing the final few notches to the very top of the OSU receiving records books was not enough temptation to stay.
"That ran through my mind after the (Fiesta) bowl game," he said, "but records are made to be broken. To be mentioned in the top five, I can’t ask for anything more. My name will be up there for a while.
"There’s a lot more in life to live for than records."
[email protected]
Monday, April 24, 2006
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Crashcup
The Voice of Reason
Santonio will most assuredly go to Denver.
They are not going to re-sign Lelie because he wants #1 reciever pay and is #2 behind 180 year old Rod Smith.
With Putzier already gone...they need a wide receiver BAD!
They've made some big mistakes at QB that they are still paying for salary cap wise. Prime example being the release of Trevor Pryce.
They are not going to re-sign Lelie because he wants #1 reciever pay and is #2 behind 180 year old Rod Smith.
With Putzier already gone...they need a wide receiver BAD!
They've made some big mistakes at QB that they are still paying for salary cap wise. Prime example being the release of Trevor Pryce.
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BGriffBuckeye
Haaaang on Sloopy, Sloopy Hang on!! O.. H.. I.. O.
You forgot:Santonio Holmes:
2003- 32 rec 549 yds 17.2 avg 7 td's
2004- 55 rec 769 yds 14.0 avg 7 td's
2005- 53 rec 977 yds 18.3 avg 11 td's
Totals: 140 rec 2295 yds 16.4 avg 25 td's
Chad Jackson:
2003- 3 rec 38 yds 12.7 avg 1 td
2004- 29 rec 648 yds 22.3 avg 6 td's
2005- 88 rec 900 yds 10.2 avg 9 td's
Totals: 120 rec 1586 13.2 avg 16 td's
And people think Chad Jackson is the better reciever?
I posted this over on bucknuts too. Production on the field matters the most, not a 40 time.
National Championships: Santonio 1 Jackson 0
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