Holley wants to meet new coach before he decides on Penn State
THOMAS HOLLEY has had to play the waiting game. The Lincoln HS All-American defensive tackle, who’s verbally committed to Penn State, needed to see how things would play out after head coach Bill O’Brien departed to the NFL to take the head job with the Houston Texans.
Now that Penn State officially a n nou nced Sat u rday that former Vanderbilt coach James Franklin will replace O’Brien, Holley and his family should have more answers t ha n quest ions in the coming days.
After Lincoln basketball’s 80 -57 w in over Boys & Girls Saturday in Coney Island, Holley - a former top-ranked basketball player who’s a center on the team - said he could be seeing Franklin and possibly members of his staff in the near future.
“I’m gonna be hearing from him real soon,” Holley said. “I know they were trying to come up for a home visit j ust to have the oppor tunity to meet my family and build a relationship. I’m waiting to see when that is.”
Whether Holley reconsiders his commitment could very well hinge on whether defensive line coach Larry Johnson returns. The relationship Holley built with Johnson was the driving force behind Holley’s Penn State commitment. Franklin repor ted ly sa id Saturday that he will speak with Johnson about a potential return.
“It certainly would be a factor, absolutely,” Holley’s mother Candace said of Johnson’s presence. “You remove that factor, we’re back to square one as far as having no relationship with Penn State. So I don’t know. We’re pretty much sitting back waiting to see what’s gonna happen.”
Vanderbilt offered Holley a scholarship when his recruitment was open, but he and his family don’t have a relationship with Franklin.
“It’s gonna take time,” Candace said. “We’re weighing out everything in terms of whether Larry Johnson goes or stays what our position is gonna be. We really don’t know.”
Holley said he spoke with Johnson “a couple of days ago” but that he hasn’t spoken with him too much as he’s waited to see who the new head coach would be. Holley did say that he thinks Johnson’s return is “up in the air. “I don’t know what’s going on with that,” Holley said, “but I have to be prepared for the worst and also be prepared for the best.”
He was prepared for O’Brien’s departure as well, cognizant of his ties to the NFL. “Anything can happen. It’s a business, and you have to be prepared for anything.”
Hol le y ’s list was down to Penn St ate and Florida before his commitment. Though Joh n s on’s return to Penn State likely would keep Holley there, Holley wouldn’t r ule out staying if Johnson lef t depending on how he feels about Franklin and his staff. He also cited comfort level, academics and atmosphere as remaining a part of his decision.
“Yo u never know,” he said. “I might build a relationship with the new coach and see what happens.” T he process surely will pick up now t hat Franklin is in place, but Holley didn’t put a specific t i met able on when he wants to make a final decision other than doing it by Feb. 5, which is National Signing Day.
“I hope to get it done by Signing Day,” he said. “That’s really it.”