Publication: Texas Sports
Date: May 22, 2015
They say the body goes where the eyes go. So for a running back, while agility and quickness are necessary qualities, vision might actually be the most important. Vision allows the running back to see the hole, identify the seam and pick out that opening in the secondary.
After all, everybody needs a target.
For Texas Longhorns standout Priest Holmes, targets turned into a Big 12 Championship, bowl game MVP honors, a Super Bowl ring and NFL records. And, 19 years after Holmes left the Forty Acres for a decorated professional career, the target turned into a college diploma.
“I realized that was always the goal,” said Holmes, who earned an applied learning and development degree from the College of Education.
Since retiring from the NFL in 2007, Holmes has focused on philanthropic work in his native San Antonio while also serving the NFL Players Association (NFLPA). As president of the NFLPA’s San Antonio chapter, Holmes was active in planning and organizing the quarterly conference last October in Dallas. The majority of the programming focuses on providing professional development, including informational sessions about returning to college to complete degree requirements.
Holmes was affected by what he heard.
“I got fired up to finish that degree,” he said. “It really motivated me and gave me that passion.”
With the assistance of Texas Athletics’ academic services staff, Holmes was able to determine the course work that he needed to graduate. During the spring semester, Holmes drove to Austin from San Antonio on Wednesdays and Thursdays to attend classes.
“I truly enjoyed the opportunity to be back on campus,” Holmes said.
