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In 2016 Nate Holly was a promising Safety from Kent State. In three consecutive seasons, Nate ranked #1 in the MAC in solo tackles. He was considered a top 10 safety and looking like a favorite as a mid-round pick, but then legal issues got in the way. He ultimately cleared his name, but the damage had been done. He missed the final four games of his senior season and didn’t get invited to the Senior Bowl or the NFL Combine because of character concerns. The 2017 draft came and went, and no one called his name.
This year, the Rams picked up Nate Holley before minicamp, reuniting him with former Golden Flashes teammate and twin brother RB Nick Holley.
Roster Battle
The starting gigs are all but set in stone with S Lamarcus Joyner returning on a Franchise Tag, and S John Johnson III looking to continue the success of his rookie season.
The battle for a roster spot at safety is going to be a difficult one; with six players will be fighting for the available depth positions; three returning Rams: S Marqui Christian, S Blake Countess, and S Isaiah Johnson, and three rookies: S Afolabi Laguda, S Steven Parker, and of course Holley, he is going to have to lean into his talents as a strong tackler to stand out from his peers.
Expectations
He did good things at Kent State, but as is always the case, it’s hard to tell how well players make the transition from college to the NFL. Setting expectations at this stage, because of that unknown, is basically useless. I do however expect Nate and twin brother Nick to try to pull some switcheroos and see if anyone notices. They’ve already, unintentionally, caught Los Angeles Rams RB Todd Gurley off-guard.
Chances of making the final roster (3/10)
He has a good chance of getting a spot in the depth chart. It’s going to be a hard-fought battle to get there though. But if he puts in the work, I can see him making the final squad in some capacity.