Holden Emerging As A Playmaker, Leader For NC State
Deonte Holden had over a dozen offers on the table when he committed to NC State while starring at DeMatha (MD) Catholic. He joined Bradley Chubb, Kentavius Street, Justin Jones, and BJ Hill as members of the Wolfpack’s heralded 2014 recruiting class, and all five were projected to impact early in their careers.
Four of them did.
Like Chubb, Holden had to add weight prior to seeing the field, but that wasn’t his biggest deterrent to playing time. Frankly, he couldn’t stay healthy.
“Really, it was just one injury, but it was a major one,” Holden stated. “I redshirted my freshman year because I was too small. I was 209 and got up to 225 after my redshirt year... feeling like I was ready to play.
“After my redshirt year, I had a Lisfranc fracture. I broke my foot the first day of training camp and I needed to have two surgeries. One was to get plates in my foot and the other to take them out. I was out for a whole year after my redshirt freshman year. I lost a whole year of football.”
By the time Holden was healthy, NC State’s defensive end rotation was set. Bradley Chubb emerged as a star and he was flanked by Kentavius Street, Darian Roseboro, and James Smith-Williams.
“Coming back it was Chubb’s time,” Holden stated. “I had to play my role, being on scout team a lot. I got a little playing time, but not much. Sometimes people questioned if I should keep playing, but I’m just not going to quit.”
Most players in Holden’s situation would do just that. College players arrive with big dreams, often as high school stars expected to continue their success right away. The moment adversity strikes, some choose to run away, pursue a different opportunity, or just give up the sport all together.
Holden wouldn’t do that.
“I think any student-athlete would question their purpose in the sport they play if they aren’t playing,” he said. “It took a lot of being humble and understanding my role and understanding the position I’m in, but also understanding what I have going forward.”
This season he has carved out a critical role in the Wolfpack’s rotation. Holden has led the defensive line in snaps played the last two games, and he has totaled 16 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, and 2.5 sacks through nine games.
“I haven’t looked at the stats,” he said. “A lot of people tell me I’ve done well so I just want to keep that game and keep showing my teammates and coaches that I can play. It’s been a long time coming; I haven’t done much, but I’m trying to get there.”
His biggest impact may have been with what he has provided that can’t be measured in statistics. NC State has a defense that had to replace nine starters and all four defensive line starters. There was a huge leadership void that had to be filled, and Holden has emerged as a vocal leader for the Wolfpack.
“I definitely see a change because I wasn’t playing as much before,” he said. “Now I have guys look up to me, and I have to be a role model for them and keep being a leader. There’s been a change, but I’m just trying to keep doing my job.”
Defensive line coach Kevin Patrick agrees.
“He’s always had the passion and ability, but his determination and how he channels himself is much more productive,” Patrick said of Holden. “He’s become a leader. Before they go into the showers when we talk after a game, he’s the last defensive lineman to talk to the d-line. He’s done a phenomenal job. I couldn’t be more proud of a guy.”
Next up for NC State is Louisville, a team that has yet to win an ACC game and has questions at quarterback, much like the Wolfpack’s previous three opponents.
How is State preparing for going on the road to face the Cardinals?
“I’m not concerned as long as we do what we have to do,” Holden stated when asked about playing on the road. “We have to effectively execute and do well on our end so we can win this game. As far as the team, we study every quarterback so we’re prepared for any quarterback. Not just me, but the whole team. We aren’t concerned about which quarterback they play, but whatever quarterback plays, we have to be prepared. We have to study every quarterback.
“We have to do our job and focus on what we can focus on. If we worry about us and we do our job and take care of the little things then the big things won’t impact us as much. Just taking it inch by inch and focusing on the things we can control. Then winning the game will take care of itself.”
Heading into the year Holden believed this would be his last opportunity – his final chance to play college football before pursuing other options. However, a couple of weeks ago he was granted a sixth season by the NCAA, allowing him the opportunity to return to NC State in 2019 for an additional year due to the injuries he sustained early in his career.
“It’s a blessing,” Holden said of the additional season. “That’s all I can say. It’s a blessing to take advantage of that opportunity and being able to come back and show people I can play and this is how I can contribute and be a good role model to the rest of the team.
“I always say it’s been a long time coming. Any chance I get I’m going to prove that I can play and that our team can play. A lot of people doubted us because of how many people we lost. We kept our head down, and we want to make stuff happen.”