Holmes is working to make a name for himself

Under the radar running backs are all across the country. Usually they are found in small areas, small schools, and small towns. There is one running back that is about to explode onto the radar and that is Gary Holmes from Seminole Ridge high school. Holmes may lack the ideal size for a big time back, but he makes up for it with heart, determination, will, and effort.

"I have plenty of critics. It is what it is. Someone will always try and knock you down. You have to pick yourself up, better yourself and work your behind off to achieve all the goals possible. I am not the biggest back in the state, but you won't find another that will work like I do and push as hard as I do. I'm going to get offered by the schools that appreciate my talents and they definitely won't regret it."

Currently, Holmes does not have any offers, but that should pick up after his performances in the last two camps he attended.

"I just went to the Under Armour combine in Orlando, ran a 4.43 in the forty-yard-dash and I made the top 7-on-7 team. I recently went to a combine in Miami and put up some solid numbers. I improved on my numbers from Orlando. I ran a 4.39 forty-yard-dash and I was in the higher percentile in the broad jump and the bench press. It was pretty neat to have a coach come up to me and tell me how shocked he was that I didn't have any offers yet. That made me feel good about my talents."

With or without any offers, Holmes still has some favorite schools and has an early top five.

"LSU, Miami, Florida State, Florida and Wisconsin are my top five. Not in that order, but that's my top five. I hear from LSU a lot, they are always sending me letters. I went to the Florida State vs Miami game and the Florida vs Kentucky game. The FSU game was fun. I like both teams, but obviously the Seminoles won that game. When I was little I was on the Seminoles in my youth league so I always watched Florida State when I was growing up. Other than those five, I have recently been contacted by Western Michigan, South Carolina, TCU, Tennessee, Louisville, Virginia Tech and Rutgers. My recruitment is definitely starting to pick up. I feel the offers will start to come in once they see me on the field more during my senior year. I plan to rush for 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns during my senior year. As a team, we are definitely improving on our 11-2 record from last year."

Holmes is the definition of a workhorse, as he plays on both sides of the ball. He plays running back and cornerback for Seminole Ridge, but he is focused on one position for the next level.

"I prefer to play running back over cornerback. That is my spot. I love making people miss. I really try and model myself after Shonn Green of the Jets and Rashard Mendenhall of Pittsburgh. They are both shorter backs and run with so much power. I feel I have the speed to run around you and the strength to run through you. I also want to return kicks and punts in college."

As a junior, Holmes rushed for 1,445 yards, 17 touchdowns, and averaged 6.2 yards per carry.