Mell Holliday

Wyoming

Sep 20 (Sat)

8:15 p.m.

Position:
Tailback
Height:
5-8
Weight:
205
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Omaha, Neb.
High School:
Benson/Wayne State/Nebraka

AT COLORADO: 2006 (Sr.)?He made the most of his first opportunity to get on to the field in Division I-A football, as he saw action in all 12 games (with one start?in the home finale against Iowa State). He rushed 105 times for 512 yards, as he gained yards on 88 carries, was stopped for zero nine times and behind the line only eight times. His 4.9 average per carry was second best on the team, and he had two of the three longest rushes by CU performers on the year: a 52-yard scamper against Iowa State, and a 45-yard touchdown run at Nebraska, his only score of the year. The latter was quite fitting, as he was denied the opportunity to walk-on for the Huskers prior to coming to Colorado. He had 34 gains of five or more yards and 10 of 10 or more on the season. He set an obscure school record, as he rushed 12 times for 50 yards in the season opener against Montana State, the 50 yards easily the most by any senior in school history in their first game in a CU uniform. His top game was against Iowa State when he rushed 18 times for 126 yards, and he had identical 8-carry, 67-yard efforts against Kansas State and Nebraska. He had patiently waited for his chance to play Division I-A football and has overcome many trials and tribulations to get to this point. He had several spectacular runs in the spring, including a dazzling 25-yard touchdown jaunt in the second major scrimmage.

2005 (Jr.)?Originally thought to be eligible by CU compliance officials, a second review of his situation initiated by the coaches prompted a reversal under the NCAA’s one year-in-residency rule and thus was ruled ineligible late in fall camp. He had turned heads in practice and ascended as high as third on the depth chart at one point. But Holliday stuck things out and was a key scout team performer over the course of the fall, and earned the Scout Team Offense Award for his practice efforts leading up to the Nebraska game. He joined the team as a walk-on for August drills.

OTHER YEARS?He was enrolled at Wayne State (Neb.) the entire 2002-03 academic year, as well as the spring of 2003; he lettered twice at fullback. He then transferred to the University of Nebraska in the spring of 2004, where he attended classes for a year-and-a-half but was not a member of he football team.

HIGH SCHOOL?A three-time letterman at both tailback and linebacker at Omaha Benson, he rushed 98 times for 641 yards and eight scores as a senior, with 86 carries for 396 yards and three scores as a junior. On defense, he was in on over 50 tackles with two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a sack as a senior. BHS was 7-3 his senior year, 8-3 his junior season and 0-9 his sophomore campaign under coach Lonnie Tapp.

ACADEMICS?He is majoring in psychology at Colorado.

PERSONAL?He was born July 3, 1984 in Atlanta, Ga. He is the father of five, including four daughters.

Rushing High Games