DeeJay Holmes, Who Led High School Football in Sacks, Signs With Ole Miss

Ole Miss inks record-setting south Florida pass rusher on National Signing Day
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The last visit before National Signing Day is always a good spot to be in and for Ole Miss it has paid off yet again. 

DeeJay Holmes, the nation's leading sacker and record-setting Pahokee (Fla.) High School edge prospect, has made his commitment official with Lane Kiffin's program just days after wrapping up a weekend official visit in Oxford. 

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound pass rusher announced a verbal commitment to Ole Miss football over Colorado, Cincinnati, UCF and USF on Wednesday morning before signing with the Rebel program soon after. 

"It was a great visit," Holmes recently told The Grove Report. "The best part was talking to coach Kiffin. He talked about wanting to see how I fit (at Ole Miss)."

DeeJay Holmes
Ole Miss signee DeeJay Holmes during his official visit / Courtesy of DeeJay Holmes

While in town for the final trip of his recruitment, Holmes was able to get more time with the newest assistant coach under Kiffin -- Pete Golding. The initial impression was a strong one. 

"He's a great dude, really knows ball," Holmes said of Golding. "They see me as a stand-up edge or outside linebacker. They say I fit the spot and it's available.

"It (was) up to me if I want it or not."

The senior Floridian broke the Pahokee High School's sack record and set the pace nationally with 32.5 sacks as a senior in 2022. He tallied 19.5 more as a junior, per MaxPreps. Holmes' efforts as an upperclassman led to plenty of accolades, including back-to-back Palm Beach County Defensive Player of the Year awards.  

Led by Holmes on defense, the Blue Devils won nine games and made a playoff push in 2022. He did so while sporting the No. 6 jersey, last worn by former NFL great Anquan Boldin at PHS. It had been retired prior to his cousin, Holmes, requesting to bring it back to Friday nights.


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