STARKVILLE — Brandon Holloway has never taken a summer off.
The Mississippi State junior running back has worked on his game the last three summers to prepare for the season. In the first two summers, he mainly focused on the running back position, but this summer he decided to focus on his pass catching. It paid off Saturday in MSU’s 42-16 victory against Kentucky at Davis Wade Stadium.
Holloway caught five passes for a game-high 98 yards and one touchdown.
“It wasn’t something I really practiced just as much coming out of high school. I think just coming out working at wide receiver and seeing different balls, and seeing different balls coming from different people, that helped me a lot,” Holloway said.
Holloway said previous summers were focused on his footwork for the running game, but he focused more on his hands this summer. Holloway was prone to drops early in his career, but he has been solid this season.
Entering the game, Holloway had nine catches for 55 yards and a touchdown. For his career, he had 20 catches for 142 yards.
Holloway hauled in an 8-yard touchdown from quarterback Dak Prescott late in the second half to increase MSU’s lead to 21-10.
“He’s just a guy you can get the ball to quick out of the backfield,” Prescott said of what he likes about Holloway as an offensive threat. “You give him some room, space, and field, he’s going to eat it up.”
Holloway said he was gassed on the drive, but when he saw the ball in the air he knew it was his opportunity to make a play.
After a Taveze Calhoun interception, Prescott found Holloway wide open in the flat. Holloway picked up 63 yards and helped set up a touchdown by Prescott two plays later.
Holloway said the work in the summer has helped raise his comfort level at wide receiver.
“I feel great,” Holloway said. “I just feel like I just want to make the plays when they come my way and that’s all I have to do.”
Holloway also had six carries for 36 yards.
The Bulldogs have several offensive weapons, and Prescott does a good job of going through his progressions to find each of them. MSU coach Dan Mullen wants Prescott to continue that, and if Holloway is the one he keeps turning to more and more, so be it.
Holloway’s time in the system and over the summer has given him a confidence level he has never had.
“Brandon’s a veteran player and been around, but I think he’s a lot more comfortable and he expects to make the plays within the system,” Mullen said.
The Bulldogs have struggled running the ball, and Holloway leads all running backs with 196 yards on 42 carries. Junior Ashton Shumpert hasn’t played in the last two games. He missed last week due to a back injury. He was dressed out Saturday, but Mullen said he didn’t use him because he didn’t get much practice time.
Although Mullen wants Prescott to take what the defense gives him, getting the ball to Holloway might become a habit.
“He’s a fast player, so we just have to get the ball more,” Prescott said.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
