Impact Freshmen: Christopher Columbus (FL) 20' LB Courtney Holmes

The Explorers' football program added one of the top incoming ninth-graders in South Florida -- that already holds a BIG TEN Conference college football verbal offer. This past summer, the 14-year-old linebacker that stands 5-foot-11, 180-pounds stood out at John Harbaugh's Satellite Football Camp at St. Thomas Aquinas. Michigan coaching staff didn't wasted no time, pulling the trigger, offering the eight-grader from the Palmetto Raiders Optimist Club.

Here's a note. This makes Courtney Holmes the third Pop Warner -- Palmetto Raiders midgets athlete within the past two seasons -- to earn a college football verbal offer -- before playing a single down on varsity. The other two Raiders were Christopher Columbus 19' RB Darren Davis Jr. (Iowa St) and Miami Southridge 4-Star WR Mark Pope (Nebraska) who were also Generation Nexxt All-South Florida 1st Team selections.

The Michigan Football Camp wasn't his only event during the off-season standing out vs. Notable high school football prospects. Holmes lined-up at free safety at Florida Fire 7v7 Open Run -- which is similar to a basketball open gym and outright earned the Top Underclassmen Defensive MVP according to Rising Stars. His 1-on-1's coverage for an eight-grader was pretty good.

When you factor the Open Run featured seven well-recognized wide receivers with D1-FBS offers. "Holmes wasn't exactly fluid, but he just made play-after-play and was beat a few times, but he wasn't afraid to compete versus the notable upperclassmen names during both the 1-on-1's and 7-on-7 sessions" said Jerry Williamson.

Pictured Above: Generation Nexxt' All-South Florida First-Team Linebackers - Willie Floyd, Harry Henderson and Courtney Holmes.

Week 3 vs. Goulds Rams was Holmes coming out party. Holmes recorded (10) tackles, (7) tackles for loss, (3) sacks, (2) force fumbles and kicked (3) extra points. The youngster would later helped his Pop Warner football team - Palmetto Raiders midgets captured the Southeastern Regional Championship and advance to the Pop Warner Div. 1 National Championship. Holmes earned the highest prestigious honors in South Florida for youth football by being named to the Generation Nexxt All-South Florida (Class of 2020) 1st Team which recently had eight members from the Class of 2019 named 4-Stars by both 247sports & Scout:

CB- Akeem Dent - Pahokee

RB - Nayquan Wright - Miami Carol City

ATH - Kenny McIntosh - University School

OLB - Diamante Howard - Miami Southridge

DB - Keontra Smith - Chaminade-Madonna

WR - Mark Pope - Miami Southridge

RB - James Cook - Miami Central

WR - Breion Fuller - Doral Academy Charter

After observing those names mentioned above, you can see -- it's clearly the high school Stars of Tomorrow folks. Holmes eight-grade statistics consisted of over 50 tackles, 10 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 3 blocked kicks, 6 touchdowns and the stats you don't see -- the holes he open at offensive line and fullback.

TANTALIZING HIGH SCHOOL UPSIDE

Miami-Dade All-Stars' Practice (Pictured Above): Linebackers Courtney Holmes (#4) and Willie Floyd (Purple jersey) ready for contact.

Holmes upside at the linebacker position is through the roof -- when considering this upcoming fall for the Explorers -- will be his first full season playing strictly linebacker. Holmes played roughly 30 percent of his eight-grade season for the Raiders at linebacker as his team most versatile athlete (FB, OL, DL, LB, DB, K, P) and as I mentioned his upside his through the roof.

Listen to this, Holmes started for the Miami Dolphins' Dade All-Stars at linebacker and led the defense in solo tackles. Furthermore, Holmes is in the running for first-team duties at weak side linebacker for the Explorers varsity football team and he's the top two overall linebackers on varsity as of today.

Last but not least, a notable college football program from the Big Ten Conference -- Michigan verbally offered the young man as a eight-grader. Not bad for someone still learning the position from scratch.

Jerry Williamson's thoughts on Courtney Holmes:

"I remember when I first met Holmes as a seventh grader. He was concentrated on playing primarily quarterback. I told him your future is on defense. As of today, he holds a Michigan verbal offer and is the Explores top three overall linebackers on varsity."