From James Martin High School in Arlington, Texas, Justin Hollins is a 6-5, 207-lb. edge rusher with strength, quickness and tremendous athletic potential. Hollins committed to the Ducks today after visiting last month the weekend of the Tennessee game along with wide receiver Jalen Brown.
Hollins is Oregon’s 11th verbal commitment in the 2014 class, and the third defensive linemen along with Tua Talia and Jaylen Jelks of Arizona. All-district last season, he racked up 68 tackles and 11 sacks as a junior at Arlington Grace Prep before transferring to Martin for his senior year.
He runs a 4.61 40 and has a 36″ vertical leap, a long, lean athletic defender in the mold of Dion Jordan, Tony Washington and Torrodney Prevot. A 3-star recruit, Hollins had offers from Baylor, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. At 6-5 he’s been timed in 10.86 in the 100-yard dash, utterly phenomenal athleticism for his size. He also plays tight end for his high school team (William Wilkerson, espn.com photo, from Twitter).
Speed off the edge creates big plays and disrupts the offense’s timing. Witness Tony Washington, whose strip/sack of Brett Hundley in the third quarter forced a vital three and out in a 14-14 game.
Washington, tall and agile with great desire, leads the Ducks with 7.5 sacks this year. Jordan became a first round NFL draft pick. Prevot has flashed great potential cracking the lineup as a true freshman, with 12 tackles, 1.5 sacks, a pair of batted passes and a forced fumble. Hollins plays in the same style, a probable outside linebacker/defensive end as a Webfoot.
He’s from the same school that brought the Ducks Stephen and Eric Amoako, the twin defensive backs who are now redshirt freshmen.
Hollins’ HUDL recruiting video can be found HERE.
Some scouting notes:
Excellent first step on the edge rush. Relentless to the quarterback, and wraps up.
Sheds a blocker and stuffs a running play. Shows good strength, leverage and use of his hands.
Makes a big play at tight end. An athlete who is comfortable in space. Those kinds of guys make big plays on defense, with the versatility to turn the football around or chase down the quick, little guys.
Working against a big blocker on a power running play, gets penetration and stuffs it for a loss. Doesn’t let the blocker get to his body. Lean, quick, athletic and hungry. Could develop into an impact player in Oregon’s strength and agility program, enhancing his natural gifts. A big upside.
Plays with great energy. The Jordan/Washington/Prevot comparison is apt.
On two successive plays on the tape, runs down a running back 30-40 yards downfield, closing in the open field. Exceptional speed for a tall defender and a terrific motor. He played on a 5-6 team at Arlington Grace Prep before transferring to Martin, and you have to love the competitiveness he shows chasing down these plays from defensive end, utterly phenomenal. Backs up the 40 and 100 times with game speed. Tremendous pursuit.
At tight end, stretches to catch a ball thrown over his head in the flat. He takes it in with natural ease and turns it upfield for the touchdown. Defenders with ball skills make more plays, recognize things more quickly. A great fit for the Oregon defense.
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