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Holt upholding family tradition

By NANCY MORGAN
Published October 22, 2006

Though Jon Holt didn't play organized football until his freshman year at Clearwater High School, it was inevitable the second oldest of four brothers would take to the game.

This season marks his fourth at North Carolina State where he has excelled on the offensive line.

Starting with his dad, who played at Furman, the offensive line has been the position of choice for the Holt males.

"I was always too big to play youth football growing up, and played a lot of other sports instead," said Holt, 22. "My parents had us playing everything, and I especially played basketball and tennis.

"I waited until my first year at Clearwater to play football, and then I wasn't the biggest until my junior year when I had most weight gain. It was natural for me to be on the offensive line."

As the Wolfpack's starting right tackle, Holt prides himself in protecting the quarterback and helping the offense gain as many rushing yards as possible.

Holt and his teammates have allowed just seven sacks in six games, which puts the team tied for third with Georgia Tech in the Atlantic Coast Conference. A 131.5 yards rushing average per game places N.C. State No. 6 in the ACC.

"To be on the offensive line, you need to be smart and know all the schemes," said Holt. "It's like another class with all the blocking schemes and the necessary step-by-step processes. At right tackle, it's like you're on an island and going one-on-one with your opponent. That's where basketball helps me - you need to keep your opponent in front of you and use good hands and feet. Basketball and tennis definitely helped me have better feet and really made me a more well-rounded athlete."

Holt's choice of N.C. State was a result of being sold on the school by coach Chuck Amato.

His first season further sold him when it ended with a win over Notre Dame in the Gator Bowl.

This year, a trip to the Orange Bowl is high on Holt's mind.

"It would be nice to receive any accolades from the ACC, but most important for us as a team is to win the rest of the season and win the ACC," said Holt. "That would be a great way to reward the team. We had two good wins over No. 17 FSU and No. 20 Boston College and that gives us momentum. Hopefully, we can keep it up."

Whether Holt is executing a pancake block or a knockdown to collect another fang on his helmet, he is always focused on helping the offense perform at the Division I school's best.

MORE FOOTBALL: N.C. State wide receiver Donald Bowens St. Petersburg had three catches for 27 yards against Wake Forest.

The freshman has played in all six games and is averaging 26 yards receiving per game.

- Linebacker LeRue Rumph (Clearwater Central Catholic) collected eight tackles for the Wolfpack against Wake Forest to raise his total to 22 in six games.

- N.C. State tight end Ted Larsen (Palm Harbor University) added a tackle against Wake Forest to total five on the season.

- Pikeville's Kyle Chilton (Clearwater) was named Special Teams Player of the Week by the NAIA and the Mid-South Conference after first connecting on 50-yard field goal and then a 34-yarder in overtime action against Cumberland.

The freshman kicker is the first Bear to be honored by the NAIA since 2004.

- Junior Scott Stevens (Dunedin) and freshman Will Donovan (Tarpon Springs) are linebackers for Maryville College.

- Eric Falla (Clearwater Central Catholic) is a sophomore linebacker on the JV squad at Carthage College, Wisconson.

VOLLEYBALL: Last year's Times Player of the Year Sloane Baby (Clearwater/Berkeley Prep) is a freshman defensive specialist and setter for Auburn.

- Chelsea Lazar (East Lake) followed up her four blocks for Marshall in its win over Central Florida with four more against Southern Mississippi. Against Alabama, the junior middle blocker posted a .391 hitting percentage.

CROSS COUNTRY: Mary Gilday (St. Petersburg) is a senior on the U.S. Coast Guard Academy squad.

BASEBALL: Ian Church (Osceola/Stetson) was named independent baseball's Frontier League MVP after leading the league in home runs (31), extra-base hits (70), hits (120) and runs scored (77).

Church played outfield for the Kalamazoo Kings and is currently playing winter ball in Mexico.

DIVING: Junior diver Alex Tilbrook (Largo) was second in the three-meter board competition for Florida State in its season-opening win over Clemson.

SWIMMING: Sophomore Daniela Brands (St. Petersburg Catholic) swam the 200-meter freestyle for national defending champion Auburn in its win over LSU this month.

SOCCER: Junior forward Kari Weniger (Clearwater Central Catholic) has collected five assists and 17 points on six goals for Soccer America's top-20 Navy.

- Ivy League Rookie of the Week honors went to freshman Meggie Ford (St. Petersburg) after the freshman defender led the back line to three consecutive shutout wins for Columbia.

News for this column may be faxed to Nancy Morgan, 445-4119; e-mailed to namorgan@tampabay.rr.com or sent to 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. Please include phone number.

[Last modified October 22, 2006, 08:53:07]