Riders’ Holley catching on after unconventional route
Receiver who grew up in Alaska making most of opportunities with CFL team
Caleb Holley’s journey has taken him north, south and now in between.
The second-year Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver was born in Albany, Ga., but moved to Alaska with his family when he was in Grade 7. He grew up in Anchorage.
Holley got serious about football in high school, which led to him moving to City College of San Francisco for junior college, then to East Central University in Ada, Okla., then to the NFL’s Buffalo Bills.
He had subsequent stints with the Los Angeles Kiss (Arena Football League) and Sioux City Storm (Indoor Football League) before signing with the Riders on Aug. 9, 2016.
“To get out of Alaska, you have to go to college,” Holley, 26, said after Wednesday’s practice at Mosaic Stadium. “Then you roll the dice and see what happens. It has been a long journey for me, but I will continue to grind.”
Riders receiver Duron Carter said Holley is the only football player he has met who hails from Alaska.
“It shows what football can do for people from all walks of life,” said Carter, who grew up in Boca Raton, Fla. “They can come here, but they have to play and perform.
“I’m sure the competition in Florida is a little bit different than in Alaska. For him to be at this point is almost like mission impossible. He’s a great player and he has beaten the odds.”
Holley overcame the odds by landing at City College and helped the Rams win the 2011 national junior football title. He then transferred to East Central, registering 80 receptions for 1,313 yards and 11 touchdowns in two seasons with the Tigers.
Holley caught the eye of the Bills, who signed him as a free agent after he was bypassed in the 2014 NFL draft. He spent the 2014 season on Buffalo’s practice roster and attended camp with the Bills in 2015 before being released due to an injured hamstring.
Then it was off to Sioux City, where Holley recorded 650 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns in 11 games with the Storm before signing with the Riders.
He had a solid rookie season with the Riders, hauling in 56 passes for 655 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games. A shoulder injury during the 2017 pre-season sidelined him for two regular-season games and he was scratched for three other contests — although he did score the first touchdown at new Mosaic Stadium.
“The first six or seven games, it was really tough to stay on the field,” the six-foot-four 200-pounder said. “Now everything is healed up and I’m ready to go.”
In 2017, Holley has 29 receptions for 444 yards and three touchdowns in nine regular-season games. One of his most impactful performances was during Saturday’s 27-24 win over the host Toronto Argonauts.
Holley had two receptions for 86 yards, including a 75-yard thirdquarter touchdown that snapped a 17-17 tie.
His first reception was an 11-yarder on a third-and-three gamble on Toronto’s 37-yard line late in the second quarter. The Riders went on to score their first touchdown of the game.
“I just have to continue to do what I’ve been doing on this team,” Holley said. “When my opportunity comes up, I have to make plays.”
The opportunities may be limited considering the talented Riders receivers. Carter, Naaman Roosevelt and Bakari Grant could combine to give Saskatchewan three 1,000-yard pass-catchers.
Roosevelt, with 1,006, has already reached that milestone, while Grant (887 yards) and Carter (806) are on pace to hit quadruple digits.
“There is only one football and we have a bunch of really good receivers, so it’s kind of hard to find out where to get in and where your opportunities lie,” said Chris Jones, the Riders’ head coach and general manager. “(Holley) makes the most of the opportunities he gets and he makes big plays.”
The Riders recognized Holley’s value by recently signing him to a contract extension through the 2018 season.
“That was big and it let me know that they really wanted me here,” Holley said.
Notes: Linebacker Samuel Eguavoen and cornerback Kacy Rodgers III will both miss Friday’s game against the visiting Ottawa Redblacks due to injury. Jeff Knox Jr. will replace Eguavoen. Chris Lyles will fill in for Rodgers … Wednesday’s trade deadline passed without any deals being completed.
I’m sure the competition in Florida is a little bit different than in Alaska. For him to be at this point is almost like mission impossible.