Nick Holley
Wide Receiver – Senior
Kent State
Alex Khvatov: What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?
Nick Holley: Height is 5’10, weight is 196 and I haven’t gotten an official forty time from the pro day. My trainer had me at 4.40 and 4.44 hand time.
Alex Khvatov: Where are you currently training for the NFL Draft?
Nick Holley: I have been in Minnesota. I spent over two months here. I have been able to get through adversity and come back from the injury. I will be a full go for the OTA’s.
Alex Khvatov: Tell us about your most recent Pro Day.
Nick Holley: It was on March 23rd. I was excited. I have been looking forward to it as a little kid. I had no sleep the night before. I handled my business like I needed to. I did the bench, agility, 40 time and positional drills with the scout. I ran on the AstroTurf indoors. I was happy with my pro day. I didn’t do the broad or the vert because I didn’t want to risk it coming off a serious injury. I did 17 reps on the bench. I had 6.68 or 6.8 in the 3-cone. I ran a 4.09 in the 20-yard shuttle. I talked to a couple of scouts after the pro day. I had a good 20-minute discussion with the Rams.
Alex Khvatov: You suffered a serious injury in the beginning of the season. How were you able to recover so quickly?
Nick Holley: I tore my ACL during the third game of the season. It was a non-contact thing. Tomorrow will be six months since I tore it. I have been overcoming barriers all of my life. I am healthy now. I am getting my explosion back. I got my speed back and I showed it during the pro day. It has been an uphill battle. Everything has gone my way. I am blessed. I will be healthy at 110% for the OTA’s. I have put my knee through enough stress. I also took care of it and went through the recovery. Body heals by itself. You just tell your brain that you could do. It is a mental thing more than anything.
Alex Khvatov: Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?
Nick Holley: Not too many. I was 5’10 and 173. I was small. I played QB/FS/CB. I have done pretty good stuff my senior year. Size is a big deal in CFB. I was looked at by Kent State. Three days before signing, Harvard reached out to me. But I needed to get 27 on the ACT. It was too high. I also had Army and Navy.
Alex Khvatov: Why did you choose Kent State?
Nick Holley: It was the only D-I offer.
Alex Khvatov: Describe your overall career.
Nick Holley: I was where my team needed me. I have been a returner, WR, RB and QB. I am an unselfish player. I will do whatever I can for the team. I am a hell of a team player. State recruited me as an athlete. They told me that I would be able to pick my position. But when I showed up the first day, it said WR at my locker. I have never played it before. It was a learning curve. I started on special teams and the scout team. During practice, they had me at QB and RB. At the end of season, my coach sat me down and asked me to pick my position. I wanted to play QB. They didn’t see me there. I became a starting RB during my sophomore year. They were experimenting with me in the slot my junior year. By the fifth game of my junior season, I was moved to QB because of injuries. I was a starting QB for the next two years until I got injured.
Alex Khvatov: What are your strengths?
Nick Holley: I am a team player. My versatility. I can play multiple positions. My brother and I are twins. My father instilled in us that I would always give you everything I got, whether it is practice or game.
Alex Khvatov: Is your brother still chasing his dream as well?
Nick Holley: My twin brother just flew down to the NFL Spring League in Austin, Texas. It is the second year they are doing it. My brother did well during the pro day. My brother has been non-stop during training. He has the drive and the passion. He is not giving up. I expect big things from him.
Alex Khvatov: What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?
Nick Holley: Everything. You never could become too good at something. I need to work and improve in all parts of my game.
Alex Khvatov: You played some WR in college. But what is it like to get moved to WR again after playing QB?
Nick Holley: I realize that I need to improve on my blocking. I need to get used to running routes again. I can read the defense well. I am pretty creative. My top half of my body needs to loosen up a little.
Alex Khvatov: What is the highlight of your career up to this point?
Nick Holley: Getting moved to QB in college. I always wanted to play QB. I had more freedom and it created more opportunities. Also going to the same college with my brother, so my family can be a part of our careers.
Alex Khvatov: What is your favorite NFL team?
Nick Holley: When I was younger, I liked the Patriots. I love the way they run their system. Tom Brady defies all odds. Now I am not a huge fan of anybody. I am a fan of every team.
Alex Khvatov: Who is your favorite NFL player?
Nick Holley: I don’t have a favorite player. But I realize that Tom Brady is special. He has done really good things. He has overcome circumstances.
Alex Khvatov: What is your definition of a leader?
Nick Holley: A leader is someone who will come in and do the right thing day in and day out. You can even be a behind the scene type of person. But it is a person that you look to when the game is on the line or when you are in trouble. It is the person who other guys look to.
Alex Khvatov: What is the most important trait for a WR?
Nick Holley: I have done film study. Jerry Rice wasn’t the fastest or the biggest guy. But he went full speed on every route. You can’t take plays off. You have to give it your all. It is the most important thing.
Alex Khvatov: What players on your team should we keep an eye on for next season?
Nick Holley: Our RB Justin Rankin and WR Trey Harrell.
Alex Khvatov: Who is the best player that you have faced during your career?
Nick Holley: My brother was the toughest player I faced. I played Alabama, Penn State, Clemson and Ohio State. I will say that I respect the LB from Ohio University (Quentin Poling). He was very smart. He called out our plays. I respect him a great deal. He played with so much knowledge.
Alex Khvatov: What do you enjoy most about football?
Nick Holley: Compete every play. My brother and I are the ultimate competitors. It relieves stress. I have the passion and the competitiveness. Not everybody can do it. It is a man’s game. It is all about one more rep and one more game. Sometimes you are feeling helpless, but you overcome it. I have never quit anything my whole life. I have overcome adversity and come out a better person.
Alex Khvatov: What are your hobbies?
Nick Holley: My brother and I race motocross. We love riding in the sand dunes. We love to ride and race motorcycles and four wheelers. We have been doing since I have been four years old. My mom’s family is huge in it. We all ride. It is a family thing. Some in our family have gone professional. My dad bought us a dirt bike when we were four.
Alex Khvatov: What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?
Nick Holley: I majored in finance. I would love to do something with it. I live my life and have some fun. It is so far away. I am here now, and it is all about football. I am 23 years old. The dream is so close. I have had the same dream since I have been eight years old. I have been through adversity.
Alex Khvatov: Finish the sentence, Nick Holley is….
Nick Holley: Hungry.
