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On verge of INT record, Louisville S Gerod Holliman talks Belk Bowl, Georgia
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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — For Louisville’s Gerod Holliman, Tuesday’s Belk Bowl matchup with Georgia is his final opportunity as a third-year sophomore to show NFL scouts his star potential at the next level.
Given an early-round grade by the draft advisory committee, Holliman announced last week he will make the jump after one of the most impressive single seasons by a safety in college football history.
Holliman has picked off 14 passes in 11 games, one off the FBS record for interceptions in a season.
“No pressure at all, great accomplishment just tying the record,” Holliman told Saturday Down South during an exclusive interview at the College Football Awards at Walt Disney’s Boardwalk on Dec. 10. “If I get the opportunity to break it (against Georgia), it would be big.”
Holliman gives a ton of credit to Louisville defensive coordinator Todd Grantham for his transformation into the ACC’s most-feared ballhawk. At the free position, Holliman’s been given a chance to freelance a bit in the secondary and now has a better feel for opposing offenses.
Holliman didn’t record a single interception as a redshirt freshman in 2013 and looked like a starter in need of serious development.
“I’m getting a lot more playing time at the position I’m comfortable with in a new type of defense for us,” Holliman said.
Unnamed NFL scouts have publicly given mixed reviews on the Miami native. At 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, Holliman’s size is a strength but he’s not a textbook tackler and sometimes takes bad angles.
According to a recent report from NFL.com, one scout compared him to Ed Reed and was impressed by his instincts at the back end of Louisville’s defense.
Against Georgia in the Belk Bowl, Holliman’s not going to get as many chances to make plays against Hutson Mason and the Bulldogs’ passing game. Instead, he’s expecting the Cardinals to get a heavy dose of freshman running back Nick Chubb, arguably the best running back Louisville’s faced this season outside of Florida State rookie Dalvin Cook.
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“We’re expecting them to come in and establish the run,” Holliman said. “I haven’t watched film on them yet, but we’re a stop the run first team, so we’ll emphasize that.”
Holliman says playing for former Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino has been an enjoyable experience.
“He lets the guys go wild and have their own swagger and really get into the game,” Holliman said. “We’ve had some great wins with (Petrino). I know it’s big in Louisville to come away with a win against Kentucky. I knew coming in that game was going to be rowdy.”
