98 Days to Miami football: DT Jalar Holley ready to contribute

Jalar Holley hopes to become more known for his play on the field with the Miami football team in 2020 after becoming famous throughout college football for his sideline dances in 2019.

Jalar Holley played two games with the Miami football team in 2019. Holley played in the regular-season victory against FCS Bethune-Cookman and in the Independence Bowl loss to Louisiana Tech. Holley did not get on the stat sheet in either game. Holley preserved a redshirt season with the two appearances.

Holley became known throughout college football during a redshirt season in 2019 with his ofter polarizing sideline dances. A three-star signee in the Class of 2019, Holley came to Miami from Buford, Georgia. At 6’2 285 pounds, Holley is expected to be a part of the Hurricanes rotation at defensive tackle in 2020.

The Miami football staff expects Holley, classmate, redshirt freshman Jared Harrison-Hunte and redshirt sophomore Jordan Miller as the future at defensive tackle for the Miami football team. Rising senior Jon Ford and rising junior Nesta Silvera are expected to be the starters for Miami at DT in 2020.

Holley chose Miami over more than 20 Power Five schools. That includes ACC Rivals, Georgia Tech, Louisville, North Carolina State, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Virginia Tech. Holley, Harrison-Hunte and Miller will be key players in the rotation at DT. Miami hopes to continue to be stout against the run in 2020.

The Hurricanes finished 17th nationally in 2019, allowing 114.62 yards per game rushing. Miami was 10th allowing 3.17 yards per carry against them in 2019. With Silvera and Ford anchoring the defense and Holley, Harrison-Hunte and Miller ready to contribute Miami will have a strong rotation on the defensive interior.

Pat Bethel who was a starter at defensive tackle the last two years for the Miami football team told Inside the U “Jalar became a hell of a force…A very quick guy and I think he could be something great.” Getting more production from their DTs will be key to what can become the best defensive line nationally in 2020.

Miami returns rising redshirt sophomore Greg Rousseau who leads all returnees in college football with 15.5 sacks and adds rising redshirt junior Jaelan Phillips who sat out 2019 after transferring from UCLA and Temple graduate transfer Quincy Roche. With the focus on the edge rushers in 2020, Miami DT will likely go one-on-one.