Ty Holmes grew up in a
town and in a home where football is a big deal.
Holmes hails from
Lexington, NC, where the local high school program was a state
powerhouse during the 1980's when it claimed two straight state
championships and was a runner-up once.
Two players who keyed
Lexington’s run to the championship game in 1980 when it lost to
Burlington Williams, 29-14, were tight end Charles Holmes and running
back Joe McIntosh.
Charles Holmes is Ty’s
father and McIntosh, who went on to win Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie
of the Year honors at N.C. State in 1981, is Ty’s godfather.
“I guess I didn’t have any
choice but to the love the game,’’ Ty Holmes said.
Ty Holmes not only has
love for the game, but he plays it pretty darn well, too.
Well enough, at least, to
earn a scholarship offer from the East Carolina Pirates. The 6-foot-2,
210-pound linebacker-defensive back starter for Lexington decided to
accept and made a verbal commitment to the ECU recruiting Class of 2009
on June 23.
“I really liked the
personality of their coaches,’’ Ty Holmes said Thursday. “They really
interact with their players. Some coaches just coach, and don’t have a
relationship with players. But I felt like if I went to East Carolina
I’d have a relationship with the coaches and I’d be able to talk to them
when I have something to talk about.’’
Tutored by his father and
godfather, Holmes has been a stellar performer on the Lexington football
scene since his recreation days. Much of his early career was spent
playing flag football because there were no organized tackle leagues in
Lexington until Holmes reach the third grade.
Instead, Holmes spent
hours throwing, kicking and catching the football with his father.
“My dad coached me my
first five years playing football,’’ Holmes said. “He basically told me
how to catch and run, so I was pretty good from the start.’’
The raw talent was even
more evident by the time Holmes reached Lexington High, where he started
on the varsity as a freshman and sophomore. He emerged as a true star
during that sophomore season when he averaged nearly 15 tackles and
produced three sacks in about four straight games.
Chris Deal came aboard as
head coach in 2007 with hopes of reviving a Lexington program that had
fallen on hard times. Deal realized very quickly he had a special talent
in Holmes.
“As soon as I got him on
the field I knew he was a difference maker,’’ Deal said. “Last year we
came in and put in a new offense and a new defense. It took everyone a
little time to catch on. But he was the one who caught on the quickest
and he had a great year for us.’’
Holmes collected 75 solo
tackles as a junior, had four quarterback sacks and made two
interceptions. He also played sparingly at receiver on offense, catching
two passes, both for touchdowns.
Deal said Holmes, who has
4.5-second speed in the 40-yard dash, has super agility and plays with
an aggressive style. He cited two plays Holmes made last season as
examples of those skills.
“Against Central Davidson,
he was in his backpedal playing pass defense,’’ Deal said. “The ball was
thrown and it was tipped, which changed the trajectory. But Ty made an
unbelievably athletic play to come up and intercept the ball. And he
stayed on his feet to return it.
“Then, against Forbush
they ran a sweep. He makes a huge play by coming up and knocking the kid
through the chains on the sideline. They lost two or three yards. He
made a lot of plays like that for us last year.’’
Holmes says the latter
play is typical of his style.
“I like putting the fear
in somebody’s heart,’’ he said. “If you can make a person fear you on
the field, the game is pretty much over. So at the beginning of each
game I try to set the tone.’’
East Carolina could use
Holmes at safety or linebacker, but Deal expects him to grow into an
outside linebacker.
“He’s still going to put
on some more size,’’ Deal said. “He’s got a great frame on him. He’s
athletic enough he could play wide receiver, but I think they’ll stick
him at outside linebacker and I bet he becomes a good one.’’
Holmes is the fifth player
to join the ECU recruiting Class of 2009 and he’s the fourth in-state
prospect.
