Ka’Dar Hollman
Cornerback
Toledo
Alex Khvatov: What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?
Ka’Dar Hollman: Height was 5’11 3/8, weight was 196.5 and 4.34/4.37 40 time.
Alex Khvatov: Where are you currently training for the NFL Draft?
Ka’Dar Hollman: At Michael Johnson Performance in Texas. I am now training at the school after the pro day.
Alex Khvatov: How would you describe your pro day? Were you happy with the results?
Ka’Dar Hollman: I was more than happy with the results. I was happy with my vert, bench and L-drill. My vert was 38.5. All of my hard work just paid off. I got 18 reps on the bench. I got 6.77 on my L-drill and the broad was 9’11. I exceeded my expectations during the pro day. At my junior pro day, I ran a 4.41-4.44.
Alex Khvatov: Do you have any official visits set up with NFL teams?
Ka’Dar Hollman: I will go to Eagles local day on April 17th. I have about 30 visits set up with teams and some private workouts.
Alex Khvatov: Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?
Ka’Dar Hollman: I was under recruited. Nobody recruited me. After high school, I went to Milford Academy in NY. I spent a semester at that prep school. They help you get recruited by colleges. I had to get my SAT scores up. After Milford, I still couldn’t pass my SAT’s. I still had no offers. I was at home working and hoping someone will give me a chance. I sent film to every D-I school and D-IAA.
Alex Khvatov: Why did you choose Toledo?
Ka’Dar Hollman: Toledo got in contact with me. They told me that they don’t have a scholarship for me, but they have an opportunity for me to walk-on.
Alex Khvatov: How would you describe your East/West Shrine Game experience?
Ka’Dar Hollman: The East/West Shrine game was a good experience. I was there with my teammate Cody (Thompson). We had tough practices. We had all of the scouts watching. Coaches put us to work to get ready for the game. I got better every day. The knowledge and the information. The practices were tough and intense. We had a game to play, but we were also there to help the kids at the Shrine hospital. We can’t forget that.
Alex Khvatov: Who was the best WR at the Shrine Game?
Ka’Dar Hollman: It was a tie between Cody Thompson and KeeSean Johnson.
Alex Khvatov: Do you feel that you were snubbed by the Scouting Combine?
Ka’Dar Hollman: When the season was over, I was on the backlist for the combine. There was a chance that I could make it. I was waiting on standby, but I didn’t get it. I felt snubbed at first. I realized that I can only control what I can control. I put all of the hard work into my pro day.
Alex Khvatov: What are your strengths?
Ka’Dar Hollman: My hustle. I am really active. I am a physical, aggressive corner. I can press, put hands on the receiver and mirror with my feet. I am a good tackler. I barely miss tackles. I go hard no matter what.
Alex Khvatov: What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?
Ka’Dar Hollman: Definitely, my ball skills. I left a lot of picks on the field. I have been working on that. I only had one drop during my pro day.
Alex Khvatov: Describe your overall career.
Ka’Dar Hollman: I am from Jersey. I knew nothing about the MAC. I knew that I could play at a D-I level. From the first day of camp, I saw that this is a good team. I joined the team during the last week of fall camp. I thought that I would compete and earn some playing time. They made me tryout with regular people. I wasn’t a preferred walk-on. I didn’t know the playbook, but I had really good teammates around me. They made sure that I was keeping up with everything. I redshirted my first year. Next year, I tried fighting for a starting position during spring practice. I had a good spring. I had five picks during spring practice, but I never got a fair chance. I was on a scout team that year. I was the fastest player on the team. I thought that I could at least help on special teams. At the end of the season, I was planning to transfer to Hampton. After the last game of the season, the whole coaching staff was going to Iowa State. My former OC became a head coach during my redshirt sophomore year. He is the only coach that believed in me. New CB’s coach, Cory Robinson, who is at Maryland now gave me a real opportunity. He started me as a walk-on cornerback and brought me a long way. I earned a scholarship that year. I started the last three years.
Alex Khvatov: How would you describe your former teammates WR Cody Thompson, Diontae Johnson and Jon’Vea Johnson?
Ka’Dar Hollman: Jon’Vea is a speedster. He has great straight-line speed. He can take the top off the defense. Cody is not as athletic as Diontae or Jon’Vea. But he is smart and has a very good tool set. He understands leverage. His route running is very good. His double moves are as crisp as I have ever seen. Diontae is a gadget receiver. You can give him a short pass, and he will turn into a long play.
Alex Khvatov: What was it like competing against those players in practice every day?
Ka’Dar Hollman: Basically, I have been here for five years. They have been here for that long. I got better every year. They made me better every day at practice. They made me into the corner that I am today.
Alex Khvatov: What is the highlight of your career up to this point?
Ka’Dar Hollman: My first game that I started and winning the MAC championship in 2017.
Alex Khvatov: What is your biggest accomplishment in college that you are most proud of?
Ka’Dar Hollman: Being voted defensive MVP this past year.
Alex Khvatov: What have you learned the most from your coaching staff?
Ka’Dar Hollman: I have been through three DB coaches. Our current CB coach Hank Poteat told us to always be ready and know that you are being watched and evaluated. Know how to act accordingly on the field and in the classroom. Hank Poteat won the Super Bowl with the Patriots. My old DB coach Cory Robinson taught me a lot. He didn’t treat us like college players. He treated us like men who were trying to make it to the next level. He changed the way I went about things.
Alex Khvatov: What is your favorite NFL team?
Ka’Dar Hollman: Eagles. I am from South Jersey.
Alex Khvatov: What is the most important trait for a CB?
Ka’Dar Hollman: Confidence in yourself and short-term memory. Good work ethic as well. At corner, you are doing a lot of repetitive stuff at the position.
Alex Khvatov: Before the ball is snapped, what are the tendencies that you are looking for from the offense?
Ka’Dar Hollman: I am looking at see the formation, the personnel and where the WR’s are aligned. I am looking to see where the back is set. I am looking at the situations whether they are in the red-zone or past the 40-yard line.
Alex Khvatov: What players on your team should we keep an eye on for next season?
Ka’Dar Hollman: CB Justin Clark will be going into his redshirt junior year. This past season, it was his first year starting. He was a big part of the defense this season. LB Jordan Fisher and DE Jamal Hines who received freshman All-American honors. On the offensive side, #80 junior WR Bryce Mitchell is going to be the go-to-receiver this year. He was overshadowed by the other three receivers.
Alex Khvatov: Who is the best player that you have faced on an opposing team?
Ka’Dar Hollman: During my redshirt sophomore year, it was Corey Davis.
Alex Khvatov: What do you enjoy most about football?
Ka’Dar Hollman: The feeling that it brings me when I am playing. I am in my happy place. I have all of this adrenaline in my body. There is no better feeling. I want to tackle someone and be physical. I grew up playing basketball and running track. But football is the best.
Alex Khvatov: What are your hobbies?
Ka’Dar Hollman: I like to watch a good TV series.
Alex Khvatov: What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?
Ka’Dar Hollman: I have been around sports my whole life. I want to open up a sports performance center. I graduated in May, 2018. I majored in individualized studies with a minor in business. I started my master’s.
Alex Khvatov: What five words best describe you?
Ka’Dar Hollman: Loyal, funny, hard-worker, faith and ambitious.
