WR Dev Holmes commits to Villanova

Troy High School’s wide receiver and cornerback Dev Holmes topped off an excellent 2016-17 gridiron campaign with some big news on Friday.

This past season, he helped lead his Flying Horses to an undefeated 14-0 season that ended with a NYSPHAA Class AA state title, where he would be named the Most Valuable Player of the championship game. Along the way, he received fourth team all-state honors as an all-purpose player.

While he and his team prepare for a title defense this upcoming season, one thing Holmes will not be worrying about is where he will go after high school.

Holmes announced his commitment to play collegiate football for the Wildcats.

The 5-foot-8, 160 pound two-way player from Troy chose Villanova over other Division I schools like Army, Navy, and fellow CAA member Albany.

For the Flying Horses, Holmes was a game-changer on offense, racking up over 1,534 all-purpose yards and 15 touchdowns.

The Wildcats will be most likely utilizing him on offense as a result of his playmaking ability. This past season, he had 32 receptions for 711 yards and nine touchdowns. Holmes also was a force on the ground, averaging over 10 yards per carry and rushing his way to six more touchdowns.

His older brother, Daquan, was also a standout at Troy. Daquan went on to play Division II football at American International and is currently a member of the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted signee.

Holmes has breakaway speed and is a threat for a big play whenever he touches the ball. He is quick off the line of scrimmage and once he gets separation, it can lead to some trouble for opposing secondaries. He would make a great slot receiver and possible returner for the ‘Cats.