PREP PREVIEW: Holmes, Pike Road look to add to the numbers after solid '23
Defensive back Jordan Holmes with a tackle in the game against BTW-Tuskegee last season. He also is a key part of the Pike Road offense. (File Photo)
By TIM GAYLE
Jordan Holmes admits that his favorite position is at defensive back, but if Pike Road head coach Granger Shook wants his junior to play on both sides of the ball for the Patriots, Holmes is more than happy to do it.
“That’s a lot, but if Coach asks me to play on both sides of the ball, he believes in me, he sees something in me that I don’t see in myself yet,” Holmes said.
The Class 6A Patriots (11-3 last season) open the season against Class 7A Prattville (3-7) on Thursday at Wetumpka Municipal Stadium at 7 p.m. The Lions will hold all of their home games this season in Wetumpka while Stanley-Jensen Stadium undergoes renovation.
And while there are always questions for both teams that every season opener answers, one of the intriguing riddles facing the Patriots is finding more targets for quarterback Cason Myers. Last year, big-play threats were difficult to find and one of them, Jordan King, transferred to Tallassee, so Holmes is expected to play that King-like role as a receiver, a defensive back and a return specialist for the Patriots.
Last year, Holmes caught seven passes for 89 yards and a touchdown, but he is expected to touch the ball a few more times this season.
“I feel like my role is to get our guys better at practice,” he said. “I’m taking leadership in getting my (defensive) guys to get our receivers better this year. Let’s put forth the effort in practice. That’ll get them better for games.”
As a return specialist, Holmes returned 10 kickoffs for 187 yards last year and five punts for 18 yards.
“It’s really second nature to me,” he said. “It’s fun. It gives me more opportunities to score the football.”
As a defender, Holmes has a knack for being around the ball, recording five interceptions (with 120 return yards), 12 passes defensed and four fumble returns. He finished the season with 59 tackles.
“My heart’s at DB,” he admitted. “But I set goals (as an offensive player and return specialist). It depends on where I’m at in the season. If I’m over my goal by a certain point in the season, I’ll ‘up’ it; if I’m not, I stay right there.”
The Patriots need to replace several key defenders on last year’s team, but hope to pick up where they left off after reeling off 11 consecutive victories to reach the 6A semifinals in 2023. Last year’s deep playoff run has the Patriots optimistic about the 2024 season.
“I feel like we saw the potential in ourselves,” Holmes said. “We know we can get to the semifinals, we know we can get to the state (Super 7 Championships). That gave us some confidence last year, knowing we can get to that level.”