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University of Massachusets Athletics
Holmes Named National Defensive Player Of Year
December 22, 2010 | Football
Dec. 22, 2010
AMHERST, Mass. - UMass junior linebacker Tyler Holmes has been named the National Defensive Player of the Year by Phil Steele's College Football. It is the highest honored to date for Holmes, who is a finalist for Buck Buchanan Award for the nation's top defensive pkayer according to national media. Holmes was also named to the Phil Steele First Team All-American, his fourth first-team honor. He has also been named to the top squad by the Associated Press, The Sports Network and the American Football Coaches Association.
Phil Steele Honors For 2010 in PDF Format
He also won the New England Gold Helmet Player of the Year and CAA Defensive Player of the Year.
Holmes racked up 110 tackles as he was named an AFCA All-American. He led UMass in interceptions (5), TFLs (12) and sacks (5).
Holmes was also a CAA First-Team linebacker and New England Football Writers All-Star.
Holmes set a UMass record for interceptions returned for touchdowns in a game as well as a season with two against Maine on Nov. 6. He was the first player in all of Division I (FBS and FCS) since 2008 to have two picks for TDs in the same game.
Holmes had six games with double-figure tackles this season and was named the CAA Defensive Player of the Week three times (Sept. 6, Nov. 1, Nov. 8).