This past year Urban Meyer and company went outside of Florida and into Georgia to land a stud defensive tackle in Omar Hunter. Now for the class of 2009, the Gators have targeted another out of state star, defensive tackle Isaac Holmes from Hoboken, New Jersey.
“I want to hear more from Florida,” the 6-3, 290-pounder who attends Hoboken High School said. “Florida offered me and I like the Gators. I am looking forward to them recruiting me.”
In addition to an offer from the Gators, Holmes has several more offers and expects them to continue to roll in.
“Besides Florida, I also have offers from schools such as Miami, Maryland and Rutgers,” he said. “I expect to get written offers soon from Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Virginia and USC.”
Right now, Holmes is very wide open, but he did say Miami might have a little advantage since he grew up a Hurricanes fan.
“I grew up cheering for Miami U,” Holmes said. “My whole life I’ve ran the 4-3 Canes defense and that’s what I like to play in so I’ve always looked up to Miami. That isn’t going to be a big factor in my decision, but it is something I will think about.”
While going to the school he rooted for as a kid isn’t that important to him, there is one thing that is of great importance to him, academics.
“I want a really good academic school,” he said. “My education comes first and then football comes second.”
To some recruits staying close to home is a very important thing, but Holmes isn’t one of those recruits, partly because he doesn’t know where home will be for his family.
“My family is looking to move so I don’t know where they will end up,” he said. “They aren’t really planning on following me to whatever school I go to, but if it happens like that then that is great.”
Holmes has already visited several schools including Rutgers and Notre Dame. He has plans to visit quite a few schools this summer including Virginia, Miami and Florida.
According to Holmes he has three main strengths that help him perform so well on the football field.
“I would say my strengths are my quickness off the ball, my work ethic and my overall strength,” the big defensive tackle said.
Holmes, who hasn’t run a 40-yard dash this year, is staying focused on improving his game as much as possible in preparation for his senior year.
“I am working on getting more flexible and my speed,” he said. “Also, I’d like to get a little lighter on my feet and drop my weight down to 285 pounds or so.”