Andrews’ Holloway makes most of freshman year at Va. Tech
Blacksburg, Va. Heading into his freshman season at Virginia Tech, Andrews native Tucker Holloway wasn’t sure how much he would play. He was expecting to redshirt, but still play in the four games the NCAA allows players to participate in without exhausting a year of eligibility.
So Holloway was a little surprised when the Sunday before the Hokies’ game on Oct. 27 at N.C. State, he was listed as the starting punt returner. But as he had done since coming to Blacksburg, Holloway put his head down and went to work, making the most of his opportunity.
That included being the starting punt returner for the final four games of the Hokies’ season, setting a school record for most punt return yards in a single game and being named an All-Atlantic Coast Conference honorable mention.
“It was pretty cool, kind of a crazy whirlwind of a season,” Holloway said. “Started off not knowing how much I’d play but kept preparing, preparing and preparing and not playing but finally got my opportunity and took advantage of it.”
Holloway played in Virginia Tech’s 27-7 win over Wofford on Sept. 17 and was practicing with the second string on special teams during the season. Before playing the Wolfpack, special teams coach Stu Holt said the staff was looking for someone who could bring a little more to the position than the previous returner.
“He was just very consistent throughout camp, and we just kept thinking, the more and more we watched him, we just kept thinking, ‘Man this guy’s got a chance,’ ” Holt said.
When preparing to return punts, Holloway would start by watching every kick by the opposing team’s punter so far that season. That gave him an idea of how the ball comes off the punter’s foot and how he punts the ball in certain situations.
He also looks for opposing players to watch out for on punt coverage, as well as potential weak spots. Then he gets punt coverage looks from Virginia Tech’s scout team during practice. That way, when it comes to the game, he’s just going off instinct instead of an overload of information.
In his first game as punt returner, Holloway didn’t return any punts. Holt said N.C. State punter Shane McDonough’s punts had a ton of hang time, which means they hang in the air for a long time and allow others on the punt coverage to get down field. But both Holt and Holloway said they knew there’d be opportunities to return punts due to the Yellow Jackets’ spotty special teams play.
After Georgia Tech went three and out on the opening drive, Holloway returned David Shanahan’s punt 13 yards, and his next two returns went 13 and 16 yards, respectively. Those returns gave him the confidence that his preparation had paid off, and when he trotted out deep in Virginia Tech territory with one minute and 10 seconds left in the first half, he just wanted to make something happen.
He caught the ball at the 10-yard line, got a block and found the open lane, getting to the second level. He didn’t stop until he was in the end zone for a 90-yard touchdown.
That was part of a day in which his 188 punt return yards broke the single-game Virginia Tech record. The previous record was set in 1994 by Antonio Freeman, who went on to play wide receiver in the NFL. For his performance, he was named ACC Specialist of the Week.
“It was cool because I had put so much work and preparation in like I was going to play every week and wasn’t going to be able to play,” Holloway said. “Then finally I get my opportunity at punt returner and take advantage of it. It was cool just being able to see everything come together.”
Holloway would return two more punts during the season, then had three catches for 18 yards against Duke on Nov. 12. He ended up burning his redshirt by playing in five games, but did so because he and the coaching staff thought getting as many in-game snaps as possible would better prepare him for spring practice and next fall.
As he heads into winter workouts and then spring practice, Holloway is working to continue the process he started when arriving at Virginia Tech last January. He wanted to get bigger, faster and stronger, gaining weight while still maintaining the speed he’ll need as a wide receiver. He also plans to continue fine-tuning the mental side of the game, which includes things like mastering routes and becoming a better blocker.
He’ll do it with the same work ethic that’s taken him from Andrews to the highest level of college football. It’s a journey he doesn’t take for granted, consciously remembering from time to time to stop and take it all in.
Before every game, he runs out of the tunnel to the end zone and stops to take a breath and thank God for giving him the opportunity. Then it’s back to work.
“It never gets old,” Holloway said. “Because I know my story, and I know what it took to get where I’m at.
I’m always just thankful and make sure I take it in, actually soak in the moment.”