2017 NFL Draft Profile: Nick Holshoe

Former Concordia safety and current NFL draft prospect Nick Holshoe loves football and loves to hit. It is something NFL scouts have taken note on.

Holshoe was working out at the College Gridiron Showcase in Texas when he was approached by a scout from the San Francisco 49ers who asked him two questions.

“The first thing he asked me was if I love football,” Holshoe said. “I said yes sir. And he asked if I love to hit. I told him yeah I love to. He said those are two notes I have on you after watching you practice today.”

Photo Courtesy of Mlive.com

Holshoe said his biggest attribute is passion for the game. It is something he has enjoyed watching at the professional level growing up in players like John Lynch, Ray Lewis and Brian Dawkins. Holshoe said he admired their blue-collar work ethic they brought to the field.

“That’s what I think I bring to the table,” Holshoe said. “They just had so much passion for the game. I loved people that liked to hit and that is one of my favorite things to do.”

Holshoe finished his career at Concordia with 381 career tackles, which ranks second in school history. He also is the school’s all-time leader in interceptions with 14. In his senior year he finished with 88 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. Holshoe also finished 11th in the country in punt return yards.

Holshoe said along with being a hard hitter, he would also consider himself a ball hawk. He said it comes from when he used to play offense.

“I just love having the ball in my hand and making plays. I like to come down with the ball rather than the receiver.”

Holshoe has been working out with Concordia head strength coach David Lawrence, who is also the head strength and conditioning coach at Michigan Elite Conditioning for Athletes. Lawrence is considered one of the top strength and conditioning coaches in the world and has worked with guys like former NFL No. 1 pick Eric Fisher, Frank Zombo and Brandon Pettigrew.

Holshoe hopes he won’t be walking the stage at graduation because it means he will be at rookie camp. The exercise science major hopes to take his football career as far as possible and then plans to open a gym in Tampa Bay, Florida. Holshoe believes his work ethic and love for football are some of the biggest traits he can offer an NFL team.

“My biggest attributes would be passion for the game and my relentless pursuit to perfection,” Holshoe said. “I can offer 100 percent commitment and my total hustle and pursuit to the ball.”

Nick Holshoe Scouting Report

Nick Holshoe has adequate size at 5’11” and 198 pounds. He has a lot of experience at Concordia racking up 381 tackles and 14 interceptions.

From the snap, Holshoe diagnoses the play well and then does his assignment. In running plays he runs downhill towards the ball carrier and makes a sure tackle. In passing plays he tracks his man if he is in man coverage or starts reading the quarterback’s eyes if he is in zone coverage.

He is great at zone coverage because he reads the quarterback’s eyes so well. He plays the deep zone most of the time and uses his good speed to cover a big portion of the field.

Holshoe has good experience playing special teams in college, which should help him out with his quest to make an NFL roster. His speed and tackling ability make him a perfect fit for punt and kick coverage. With his ability he should be able to make it on the field as a special team player early in his career.

In order to make it on the field as a safety, Holshoe will have to prove that he can cover NFL level receivers in man to man coverage and track them down if he is in zone.

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