Football fans may see senior Andre Holmes on the field for the Dallas Cowboys next year.
Holmes, who returned to campus this semester to finish his degree during the NFL offseason, spent last season on the Cowboys’ practice squad but was named to the active roster for the team’s final four games.
Now, the Cowboys have to decide whether to keep veteran free-agent Laurent Robinson or to let him go, which would open up a spot at the third wide receiver position.
“We have a very good young receiver that we’re really proud of, and he’s a factor in what we do here with Robinson, not to diminish what Robinson did for us this past year,” Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones told ESPN. “[Holmes] has a real knack of keeping a play alive and that works real well with [quarterback Tony] Romo.”
Holmes said that while he has a major opportunity here, he will have to earn it every step of the way. He said he will have to prove that he can contribute both as a receiver and on special teams.
And working hard every day is only half the battle. He also has to be good.
“You have to be very consistent,” he said. “You can’t have any lapses. You need to limit yourself from having that random drop. And you have to make plays. A play that is not usually made, you’ve got to try and make it every time. You’ve got to know you’ll make it.”
Hillsdale College head football coach Keith Otterbein said Holmes has the physical tools to compete professionally.
“He looked like those other guys … at the [NFL] combine,” Otterbein said.
Otterbein said that, more importantly to him, Holmes is the same humble person he has always been and is setting himself up for “greatness” in the rest of his life by completing his education.
“We had Dre working as part of finishing his degree, and he’s out there when we’re in early morning conditioning being a water boy,” he said.
But the immediate future rests on Holmes’ ability to impress, and the Cowboys’ willingness to take a risk.
“Same kind of gamble we had with [Pro Bowl linebacker Dan] Bailey,” Jones said. “Just any coach or anybody will say, ‘The guy has never played, how can you pencil him in?’ It is but you’ve got to take them … There’s no way you can put a team on the field and not play with players that haven’t played before in the NFL.”
