HOLMES PRAISES COOMBS
One non-Ohio State player participating in this week’s Senior Bowl whose name many Buckeye fans will remember is Darnay Holmes, whose nephew stole the show during his commitment at the 2017 All-American Bowl. While Holmes chose to sign with UCLA, his nephew – pointing to an Ohio State hat that was also on the table – memorably disagreed with his decision.
Although Holmes, a Southern California native, opted to become a Bruin, he was heavily recruited by Ohio State – specifically by former coaches Urban Meyer and Greg Schiano, and Kerry Coombs, who just returned to the Buckeyes’ staff this week – and when rumors emerged in October that Holmes could transfer from UCLA to another school, there was speculation that he could become a Buckeye.
Holmes said Tuesday at Senior Bowl media day that he did give consideration to staying in college and transferring to another school, but ultimately, he decided his best move was to enter the 2020 NFL draft. (Early entrants into the NFL draft typically aren’t eligible to play in the Senior Bowl, but Holmes was because he graduated from UCLA in just three years.)
“It was definitely a thought,” Holmes said. “But as I laid out all the hands I was being dealt and I set aside, I took notes from Day 1 when the season was over, I did things I had to do to get my body back right, and I thought it was best for me just to take on the next level.”
Holmes wouldn’t specify which schools he considered transferring to, but he said he keeps in touch with several players who were in Ohio State’s recruiting class of 2017 – including Jeff Okudah – and had nothing but praise for the Buckeyes and Coombs when asked about them.
“Salute to coach Coombs for going back home and shoutout to BIA,” Holmes said. “If you look at his resume, who can compare with his resume? It was a stat I saw yesterday, 101 interceptions with (17) taken back for pick-sixes (during Coombs’ previous six years at Ohio State). And I know that’s pure talent as well, but also the coach had a role within those interceptions. So coach Coombs, he knows what he’s doing with the defensive backs, for sure.”
As for his nephew, Holmes said he’s still a fan of Ohio State, but more specifically, one former Buckeye who now plays for the Dallas Cowboys.
“He’s from Texas, so he’s Ezekiel Elliott,” Holmes said. “Everywhere Ezekiel goes, he want to go, which I salute.”
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