DC 'gater
August 10th, 2005, 09:05 AM
MONMOUTH RECORD HOLDER SIGNS NFL CONTRACT WITH OAKLAND RAIDERS
Hawks’ Standout Becomes First To Make NFL Roster
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 2, 2005
West Long Branch, N.J. – Former Monmouth University football standout, Will Holder has signed a professional contract with the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. Holder becomes the first Monmouth alum to become part of an NFL roster in the school’s 12-year history of football.
“We are very happy for Will,” commented head football coach Kevin Callahan, who was Holder’s coach at Monmouth during his entire four year career. “He has worked tremendously hard to get to where he is today. It is a great opportunity for him.”
Holder, who most recently played three seasons for the New York Dragons of the Arena Football League, still remains atop the list in career receptions (114) and receiving yards (2,172) in the Monmouth football annals. In total, he finished his Monmouth career with 21 touchdown receptions and a 19.1 yard-per-catch average for the Hawks, in 33 games played and ranks second all-time in career all-purpose yards with 3,145.
Holder was an All-Northeast Conference selection in 1996 when he averaged 23.7 yards per catch and hauled in seven TDs. He also ranked fourth nationally in kickoff returns at 29.9 yards per clip. He was tabbed All-NEC again in 1997 when he hauled in six touchdown receptions in just eight games. He also earned Don Hansen’s National Weekly Football Gazette first-team I-AA Mid-Major recognition in 1996, helping lead Monmouth to a share of its first-ever NEC title.
Holder’s break-out game came during the 1995 season when he collected 147 receiving yards on five catches and a TD versus Robert Morris, en route to setting a career-high with seven TD receptions on the year.
In his final three seasons in West Long Branch, Holder eclipsed over 500 yards receiving and six TD grabs, while posting a long-play over 80 yards or better in each of the three years. Holder’s longest play from scrimmage came on November 8, 1997 as he connected with Dan Sabella on an 88-yard score in a 51-7 win over conference rival Wagner.
Also stellar on special teams, Holder set the single-season kickoff return mark with 479 return yards in 1995, en route to a career total of 960 yards. He ranks second in Monmouth history in return average (25.3 ypr), returning a kickoff 79 yards for a touchdown against St. Francis in 1996.
The Orange, N.J.-native ranked third on the Dragons during the 2005 season in both receiving (596 yards) and touchdowns (17). He caught 48 pass for 596 yards and 11 touchdowns in his third season, while also returning five kickoffs for scores. He also led the Arena League in kickoff return average, posting a 26.2 yard per return clip.
Holder recorded a career-high four touchdowns on February 22 versus Dallas and scored his first rushing touchdown on February 29 at Arizona on a three-yard run. A two-way player, he intercepted two passes and returned one for a score against Colorado on April 18.
In 2004, he hauled in 67 catches, totaling 942 yards and 26 touchdowns.
During his rookie campaign with New York, Holder appeared in 12 games after being signed off the practice squad Week 5. He recorded 52 receptions for 593 yards and 12 touchdowns. In two playoff games, he caught six touchdowns on 16 receptions. He also booked 17.5 tackles and one interception on the defensive side.
Monmouth, two-time defending Northeast Conference champions, opens its 2005 campaign with a road contest at Patriot League powerhouse Lehigh on September 3. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.
Hawks’ Standout Becomes First To Make NFL Roster
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 2, 2005
West Long Branch, N.J. – Former Monmouth University football standout, Will Holder has signed a professional contract with the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. Holder becomes the first Monmouth alum to become part of an NFL roster in the school’s 12-year history of football.
“We are very happy for Will,” commented head football coach Kevin Callahan, who was Holder’s coach at Monmouth during his entire four year career. “He has worked tremendously hard to get to where he is today. It is a great opportunity for him.”
Holder, who most recently played three seasons for the New York Dragons of the Arena Football League, still remains atop the list in career receptions (114) and receiving yards (2,172) in the Monmouth football annals. In total, he finished his Monmouth career with 21 touchdown receptions and a 19.1 yard-per-catch average for the Hawks, in 33 games played and ranks second all-time in career all-purpose yards with 3,145.
Holder was an All-Northeast Conference selection in 1996 when he averaged 23.7 yards per catch and hauled in seven TDs. He also ranked fourth nationally in kickoff returns at 29.9 yards per clip. He was tabbed All-NEC again in 1997 when he hauled in six touchdown receptions in just eight games. He also earned Don Hansen’s National Weekly Football Gazette first-team I-AA Mid-Major recognition in 1996, helping lead Monmouth to a share of its first-ever NEC title.
Holder’s break-out game came during the 1995 season when he collected 147 receiving yards on five catches and a TD versus Robert Morris, en route to setting a career-high with seven TD receptions on the year.
In his final three seasons in West Long Branch, Holder eclipsed over 500 yards receiving and six TD grabs, while posting a long-play over 80 yards or better in each of the three years. Holder’s longest play from scrimmage came on November 8, 1997 as he connected with Dan Sabella on an 88-yard score in a 51-7 win over conference rival Wagner.
Also stellar on special teams, Holder set the single-season kickoff return mark with 479 return yards in 1995, en route to a career total of 960 yards. He ranks second in Monmouth history in return average (25.3 ypr), returning a kickoff 79 yards for a touchdown against St. Francis in 1996.
The Orange, N.J.-native ranked third on the Dragons during the 2005 season in both receiving (596 yards) and touchdowns (17). He caught 48 pass for 596 yards and 11 touchdowns in his third season, while also returning five kickoffs for scores. He also led the Arena League in kickoff return average, posting a 26.2 yard per return clip.
Holder recorded a career-high four touchdowns on February 22 versus Dallas and scored his first rushing touchdown on February 29 at Arizona on a three-yard run. A two-way player, he intercepted two passes and returned one for a score against Colorado on April 18.
In 2004, he hauled in 67 catches, totaling 942 yards and 26 touchdowns.
During his rookie campaign with New York, Holder appeared in 12 games after being signed off the practice squad Week 5. He recorded 52 receptions for 593 yards and 12 touchdowns. In two playoff games, he caught six touchdowns on 16 receptions. He also booked 17.5 tackles and one interception on the defensive side.
Monmouth, two-time defending Northeast Conference champions, opens its 2005 campaign with a road contest at Patriot League powerhouse Lehigh on September 3. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.