Holloman emerging as top Fromm target
ATHENS, Ga. — If sophomore receiver Jeremiah Holloman is starting to remind some Georgia football fans of Javon Wims, those fans are not alone.
Bulldogs players feel the same way.
“He and Javon were very close friends, and he’s a big, physical guy just like Javon,” junior safety J.R. Reed said this week. “I think he might even be a little faster, but you let those two guys handle that.”
Wims, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound rookie with the Chicago Bears, was Jake Fromm’s top target last year, catching 45 passes for 720 yards and seven touchdowns. Holloman, a 6-2, 200-pounder from the Atlanta suburb of Covington, isn’t on pace to match those numbers but is certainly flourishing for the No. 5 Bulldogs, who seek to improve to 9-1 and wrap up a second consecutive 7-1 Southeastern Conference finish when they host Auburn (6-3, 3-3) on Saturday night.
Holloman has 19 receptions for 321 yards and four touchdowns, with eight of his catches and two of his scores occurring the last two weeks in wins over Florida (36-17) and Kentucky (34-17). His 11 catches in Georgia’s last three games are two more than the second-highest receiving option, junior tight end Isaac Nauta.
“He’s stepping up big-time,” Fromm said Saturday evening in Lexington. “He’s becoming a bigtime player for us. He’s a really good security blanket for us on the outside. He’s doing a really good job catching balls and making big plays.”
Said Holloman: “Knowing that Jake trusts me and knowing that I’m capable of making plays — pushing and getting our team first downs or touchdowns or whatever it may be — means a lot to me.”
In the victory over Florida, Holloman had touchdown receptions of 16 and 12 yards, with his 12-yarder putting the Bulldogs ahead to stay at 20-14 at the 10:33 mark of the third quarter. He had four receptions for 39 yards at Kentucky, but his biggest play was a block of Wildcats safety Mike Edwards that sprang D’Andre Swift loose for his 83-yard scoring run midway through
the third quarter that provided the Bulldogs their largest lead at 28-3.
“He works really hard,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “He blocks really physical. Everything is important to him, all the details. He’s on the punt return unit that’s one of the better ones in the country. He takes pride in that. He’s a backup on kickoff coverage and a backup on the punt team. He just works, and the guys who work and play physical get the opportunities.
“He’s taken advantage of some opportunities he’s been presented, like in the Florida game. He took advantage of the opportunities he got last week.”
Riley Ridley and Jayson Stanley also are Georgia receivers in the 6-2, 200-range, and
when any of them make a block like Holloman against Edwards, they gain the praise of the offensive linemen who block for a living.
“That’s the standard,” sophomore left tackle Andrew Thomas said. “That’s how we expect our receivers to play, because they’re all physical. They really help us out.”
Holloman could be Georgia’s most important offensive piece this weekend against an Auburn defense that is stout in the front seven but has been suspect in the secondary. The primary reason for Auburn’s losses to LSU and Tennessee was an inability to stop physical receivers on third down, with LSU converting eight such opportunities and Tennessee a whopping 10.
It would appear to be another ideal stage for Holloman’s developing talents.
“He’s been very good for us,” Reed said. “He’s a big-body receiver who had a couple of guys in front of him, and when the opportunity knocked, he hit it out of the park. He’s really shining right now.”
Odds and ends
Fromm is wearing a wrap on his leg this week due to a bruise he sustained at Kentucky. … Smart on the speculation that defensive coordinator Mel Tucker could be interested in being Maryland’s head coach, should that job come open: “Mel is one of the most professional people I’ve ever met. He’s worried about these guys and this team and coaching his tail off for them.” … Receiver Demetris Robertson has not traveled with the team the last two weeks due to injury. … Senior center Lamont Gaillard (hyperextended knee) and freshman right guard Cade Mays (stinger) have been limited this week. … The Bulldogs picked up a commitment Tuesday from Georgia Military cornerback DJ Daniel (6-0, 180), a four-star prospect who is rated by 247Sports.com as the No. 10 overall junior college recruit.