2016 Projection: WR Corey Holmes

Holmes did not play a down in 2015, preserving a season of eligibility.

Holmes made a splash this spring when head coach Brian Kelly announced he ran a team-best 4.39 in the 40-yard dash and jumped over 40-inches during winter conditioning. That type of speed is not what made Holmes a highly regarded recruit and those testing numbers came as a surprise considering the fact Holmes has not flashed that type of athleticism during practice reps. If he can carry that speed onto the field, he will have a chance to make plays.

What made Holmes a top recruit was his understanding of how to play the game and his ball skills. Holmes knows how to run routes, he knows how to get open and he can go get the football when it comes his way. Those traits must shine through if Holmes is going to hold off sophomore slot receiver C.J. Sanders and the talented freshmen. If the speed comes as well, that’s great for him, but it is these traits above all others that will get him on the field.

In the Notre Dame offense the slot must first and foremost be a player that knows how to work himself open. It requires a savvy football player to truly shine in that spot. Having a dynamic playmaker is ideal, but that must come along with those other traits. Holmes has these skills, but he has not been able to show them off with any consistency, which is why he has yet to see the field.

The expectation in 2016 is that Holmes show off all of the above traits every day in practice, giving the coaches the confidence to put him onto the field. If he continues to be hit-or-miss in regards to showing off his skills, Holmes will find himself quickly challenged for playing time. If those traits show up every day, Holmes will become a factor in the Irish offense.

A good season for Holmes is one in which he becomes a factor in the Notre Dame offense. He played mop up minutes as a true freshman, didn’t see any action as a sophomore and he has never made a catch in a Notre Dame uniform. Any production at all would be an improvement, but Holmes is expected to become a playmaker in the slot. A good season for Notre Dame is that Holmes can catch at least 30 passes, play with consistency and prove himself capable of moving the chains.

If he can use his speed to rip off big gains that is an added bonus. Holmes will also need to improve his blocking skills in the slot, or he will find himself on the bench in run packages.

To read more about senior WR Torii Hunter Jr., CLICK HERE.
To read more about sophomore WR Equanimeous St. Brown, CLICK HERE.