Syracuse landed one of the biggest prospects on its 2016 recruiting board July 28, as Camden, New Jersey defensive end Jamal Holloway announced his intentions to play for the Orange.
“First, I would like to thank God for this unbelievable opportunity to continue to play football. I would like to thank my coaches, teammates and friends. I would also like to give a special thanks to my parents and my older sister for always pushing, motivating, and believing in me. Without them I wouldn’t be where I am today. I will be taking my talents to Syracuse University,” said Holloway on his Twitter account.
The Camden High School standout, a consensus 3-star prospect, is listed by the 247Sports Composite as the No. 53 weak-side defensive end in the class of 2016, and the No. 21 player in the Garden State. Rivals lists Holloway as the No. 27 player in New Jersey in the rising senior class.
[callout2]“He (Holloway) plays physical and is not solely reliant on his speed and quickness to make plays,” said NJVarsity.com upon naming Holloway the No. 15 prospect in the Garden State. “Holloway has all the makings of a standout defensive end at the college level.”[/callout2]
The 6-3, 205-pound Holloway will bring athleticism and tenacity to Syracuse’s defensive line. He’s also a top performer on the basketball court, who combines good size and room for future physical development with a good burst off the line and quality hand placement. Holloway projects as a pass rushing defensive end for the Orange.
Holloway chose Syracuse over Michigan State and Rutgers, who each extended early scholarship offers, as well as Temple. He took unofficial visits to Temple and Syracuse in July. He wound up committing to the Orange twelve days after his July 16 visit.
ACC rivals Pittsburgh, North Carolina, and Virginia also reportedly offered Holloway. Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi, in fact, recruited Holloway at both Michigan State and with the Panthers. Pitt was one of Holloway’s finalists, along with Temple, Old Dominion, and the victorious Orange.
Holloway heads into his senior season at Camden High in excellent physical condition, having played AAU basketball for much of the summer. There is a possibility that Holloway might have a chance to walk on to the Syracuse basketball team — and he likely wouldn’t be your typical walk-on.
While he’s not an elite basketball prospect the caliber of 2016 commitments Tyus Battle and Matthew Moyer, Holloway is a solid player on the hardwood who could actually help the scholarship-strapped Orange hoops squad if he goes that route. He’s friends with incoming Syracuse freshman basketball player Malachi Richardson, and Richardson reportedly played a role in helping recruit Holloway to the Orange.
Syracuse continues to clean up in the state of New Jersey in the 2016 recruiting class. New Jersey, in fact, is currently tied with Georgia for the most rising senior commitments for Syracuse. Between them, Georgia and New Jersey have produced six of the Orange’s first 13 commitments
Holloway is the third prospect from the Garden State to pick the Orange, joining his prep teammate, linebacker DyMelle Parker, who committed to Syracuse in late June, as well as wide receiver Sadiq Palmer of Little River. Naturally, Holloway is looking forward to getting to Syracuse next year and competing along with his friend and high school teammate Parker as they look to help Syracuse’s defense improve in the coming years.