Post by lazarus on Jul 10, 2003 16:45:59 GMT -5
Texans land great unknown in Tech's Hollings
July 9, 2003 By Jay Glazer SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Georgia Tech running back Tony Hollings is one part buzz, one part unknown and a whole bunch of parts intrigue.
While the NFL enjoys its final week or so in the comfy confines of precamp R&R, the league awoke from its slumber for a short period Thursday for the annual supplemental draft. The grand prize for the Houston Texans? The NCAA's 2002 leading rusher through four games, who just happens to be coming off a brutal knee tear sustained during the year. Sound familiar?
Tony Hollings covered his face as he was carried off the field last September.(AP)
"This kid, talent-wise, is just behind Willis McGahee and he's probably further along with his injury at this point than Willis is," said one NFC personnel director. "Judging by his four games last season, he was rated as one of the top 12 players by both major scouting services in this past draft had he been eligible.
"He is very raw in a lot of areas but he's a home-run hitter when he gets outside. Those four games are what everyone is so excited about."
Excited and confused. Two weeks ago, SportsLine.com watched film of Hollings with the Miami Dolphins personnel department. The personnel group watched him tear through Clemson and Vanderbilt, a game in which he did not start. With each run, the group seemed more and more sold on just how good this kid can be.
"You see that explosion? That's something you don't see in everybody," Dolphins VP of personnel Rick Spielman said. "For a guy who only played there four games, look how good his field of vision is. He sees a lot inside that a lot of other inexperienced guys would not be able to recognize.
"But the big question will be his durability and health. Each team's doctor may look at it differently."
The Dolphins came away from the initial film screening more impressed with him talent-wise than they were most of the backs in April's draft.
What makes an injured player with just four games of experience at running back such a juicy possible investment that a building team like the Texans would be willing to part with a second-round draft pick?
Check out these factoids:
He was the nation's leading rusher (158.3 yards per game) and second-leading scorer (16.5 points) after four games.
Only five ACC backs finished the season with more rushing yards than his 633 on just 92 carries.
He was the first Yellow Jacket to top 100 yards rushing in his first game as a running back with 153 and two touchdowns vs. Vanderbilt, a game in which he played just one series in the second half. Then, he scampered for four touchdowns against Connecticut, rushing for 144 yards on just 16 carries while playing just the first half.
In his second-most impressive performance against a tough Clemson defense, Hollings slashed his way for 147 yards, including a 72-yard touchdown in which he showed shades of Bo Jackson.
In his final game against BYU, he carried the ball 36 times for a career-best 189 yards and scored three touchdowns before his season-ending injury.
He rushed for 11 touchdowns, surpassed only by first-team All-ACC backs T.A. McLendon and Chris Downs.
He had four consecutive 100-yard games, a first for Tech since Eddie Lee Ivery had seven in 1978.
"He has rare ability to score from anywhere on the field," said an NFL personnel director whose team was interested in Hollings. "He needs to improve as a pass blocker, but he just moved there from defense, so you know he'll be a project with the other areas of the position. He has skills in the pass catching area, but he has not done it yet. He has very natural running skills.
"For a guy who hasn't played a lot, he has very natural running skills. The other parts of the game he'll need to work on."
Hollings spent the earlier portion of his career as a backup defensive back and special teams standout.
He was declared ineligible for 2003 when he was found to be performing below George Tech's academic standards. The suspension also prevented him from transferring.
His most appealing option was to become one of six players available for selection in the NFL supplemental draft.
"He's not a bad kid," said an NFC scouting director. "He comes from a great family, he's very coachable. Everything we heard about him has been positive."
Basically, he's no Cecil Collins. Hollings, a 5-11, 230-pounder with blazing speed -- pre-injury -- became the 33rd player taken in 27 supplemental drafts. Had he not torn his ACL, lateral meniscus and medial meniscus in the fourth game, he would have enjoyed early first-round status in the regular draft.
When teams submitted bids for the supplemental draft Thursday, third- and fourth-rounders seemed to be the likely selection of choice. But the Texans gambled with a second to step in front of non-playoff teams picking in the third.
The supplemental draft is done blindly. Teams are given draft orders shortly before the start, and the order is conducted via a weighted lottery. Thus, the Bengals did not automatically have the first pick. The worst teams based upon last year's record were first given an order, followed by the remainder of the non-playoff teams. Then, the playoff clubs were selected and given a slot.
If a team wanted a player, it had to in a bid without knowing what everyone else is doing. The Texans made the highest bid for Hollings and will forfeit their second-round selection in the regular 2004 draft.
Other teams said to be most interested included the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders and perhaps the New England Patriots (they have several additional picks in 2004).
July 9, 2003 By Jay Glazer SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Georgia Tech running back Tony Hollings is one part buzz, one part unknown and a whole bunch of parts intrigue.
While the NFL enjoys its final week or so in the comfy confines of precamp R&R, the league awoke from its slumber for a short period Thursday for the annual supplemental draft. The grand prize for the Houston Texans? The NCAA's 2002 leading rusher through four games, who just happens to be coming off a brutal knee tear sustained during the year. Sound familiar?
Tony Hollings covered his face as he was carried off the field last September.(AP)
"This kid, talent-wise, is just behind Willis McGahee and he's probably further along with his injury at this point than Willis is," said one NFC personnel director. "Judging by his four games last season, he was rated as one of the top 12 players by both major scouting services in this past draft had he been eligible.
"He is very raw in a lot of areas but he's a home-run hitter when he gets outside. Those four games are what everyone is so excited about."
Excited and confused. Two weeks ago, SportsLine.com watched film of Hollings with the Miami Dolphins personnel department. The personnel group watched him tear through Clemson and Vanderbilt, a game in which he did not start. With each run, the group seemed more and more sold on just how good this kid can be.
"You see that explosion? That's something you don't see in everybody," Dolphins VP of personnel Rick Spielman said. "For a guy who only played there four games, look how good his field of vision is. He sees a lot inside that a lot of other inexperienced guys would not be able to recognize.
"But the big question will be his durability and health. Each team's doctor may look at it differently."
The Dolphins came away from the initial film screening more impressed with him talent-wise than they were most of the backs in April's draft.
What makes an injured player with just four games of experience at running back such a juicy possible investment that a building team like the Texans would be willing to part with a second-round draft pick?
Check out these factoids:
He was the nation's leading rusher (158.3 yards per game) and second-leading scorer (16.5 points) after four games.
Only five ACC backs finished the season with more rushing yards than his 633 on just 92 carries.
He was the first Yellow Jacket to top 100 yards rushing in his first game as a running back with 153 and two touchdowns vs. Vanderbilt, a game in which he played just one series in the second half. Then, he scampered for four touchdowns against Connecticut, rushing for 144 yards on just 16 carries while playing just the first half.
In his second-most impressive performance against a tough Clemson defense, Hollings slashed his way for 147 yards, including a 72-yard touchdown in which he showed shades of Bo Jackson.
In his final game against BYU, he carried the ball 36 times for a career-best 189 yards and scored three touchdowns before his season-ending injury.
He rushed for 11 touchdowns, surpassed only by first-team All-ACC backs T.A. McLendon and Chris Downs.
He had four consecutive 100-yard games, a first for Tech since Eddie Lee Ivery had seven in 1978.
"He has rare ability to score from anywhere on the field," said an NFL personnel director whose team was interested in Hollings. "He needs to improve as a pass blocker, but he just moved there from defense, so you know he'll be a project with the other areas of the position. He has skills in the pass catching area, but he has not done it yet. He has very natural running skills.
"For a guy who hasn't played a lot, he has very natural running skills. The other parts of the game he'll need to work on."
Hollings spent the earlier portion of his career as a backup defensive back and special teams standout.
He was declared ineligible for 2003 when he was found to be performing below George Tech's academic standards. The suspension also prevented him from transferring.
His most appealing option was to become one of six players available for selection in the NFL supplemental draft.
"He's not a bad kid," said an NFC scouting director. "He comes from a great family, he's very coachable. Everything we heard about him has been positive."
Basically, he's no Cecil Collins. Hollings, a 5-11, 230-pounder with blazing speed -- pre-injury -- became the 33rd player taken in 27 supplemental drafts. Had he not torn his ACL, lateral meniscus and medial meniscus in the fourth game, he would have enjoyed early first-round status in the regular draft.
When teams submitted bids for the supplemental draft Thursday, third- and fourth-rounders seemed to be the likely selection of choice. But the Texans gambled with a second to step in front of non-playoff teams picking in the third.
The supplemental draft is done blindly. Teams are given draft orders shortly before the start, and the order is conducted via a weighted lottery. Thus, the Bengals did not automatically have the first pick. The worst teams based upon last year's record were first given an order, followed by the remainder of the non-playoff teams. Then, the playoff clubs were selected and given a slot.
If a team wanted a player, it had to in a bid without knowing what everyone else is doing. The Texans made the highest bid for Hollings and will forfeit their second-round selection in the regular 2004 draft.
Other teams said to be most interested included the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders and perhaps the New England Patriots (they have several additional picks in 2004).