Des Holmes

Last updated

Des Holmes
No. 60 – Montreal Alouettes
Position: Offensive lineman
Personal information
Born: (1999-07-28) July 28, 1999 (age 26)
Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:307 lb (139 kg)
Career information
High school: Cardinal O'Hara (Springfield, Pennsylvania)
College: Penn State (2017–2021)
Arizona State (2022)
NFL draft: 2023: undrafted
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Practice roster
CFL status:American
Stats at CFL.ca

Gillis Desmond Holmes (born July 28, 1999) is an American professional football offensive lineman for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Penn State and Arizona State.

Contents

Early life

Gillis Desmond Holmes was born on July 28, 1999, in Norristown, Pennsylvania. [1] He played his freshman year of high school football as a varsity starter on the defensive line at Norristown Area High School. [2] [3] He played his final three years at Cardinal O'Hara High School in Springfield Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. [1] [4] He was converted to offensive tackle before his junior season. [3] He earned first-team All-State and Class 4A Lineman of the Year honors his senior year in 2016. [4] In the class of 2017, Holmes was rated a three-star prospect by all four of the major recruiting services (247Sports.com, ESPN.com, Rivals.com, and Scout.com). [4] He also played basketball in high school. [4] Penn State was one of sixteen schools to offer him a scholarship. [5]

College career

Holmes played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions of Pennsylvania State University. He was redshirted in 2017. [4] He appeared in five games as a redshirt freshman in 2018. [4] Holmes played in all 13 games in 2019. [4] Due to injuries, he only played in four games during the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season. [4] [6] He appeared in 11 games in 2021. [7] Every game of his Penn State career was in a reserve role. [8] [4] Holmes majored in journalism at Penn State. [4]

In 2022, Holmes transferred to play for the Arizona State Sun Devils of Arizona State University as a graduate transfer. [7] He played in ten games, all starts, during the 2022 season while also missing some time due to injury. [7] [9]

Professional career

Holmes went undrafted in the 2023 NFL draft. On June 16, 2023, he was selected by the Seattle Sea Dragons in the 2023 XFL rookie draft. [10] However, he did not sign with them.

Holmes signed with the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL) on January 23, 2024. [11] He was released on May 15, 2024. [12]

Holmes signed a two-year contract with the CFL's Montreal Alouettes on February 20, 2025. [13] [14] He was moved to the practice roster on June 1, and promoted to the active roster on June 12. [13] He then started four games for the Alouettes before being moved back to the practice roster on July 15, 2025. [15] [16] [13]

Personal life

Holmes' father, Lee Holmes, played college basketball at Shippensburg University. [2]

References

  1. 1 2 "Des Holmes". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Juliano, Joe (June 26, 2019). "Former basketball player Des Holmes ready to compete for starting tackle job at Penn State". The Philadelphia Inquirer . Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  3. 1 2 McGonigal, John (June 18, 2017). "Penn State freshman, late bloomer Des Holmes shines at Big 33 Game". Centre Daily Times . Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Des Holmes". Pennsylvania State University . Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  5. "Holmes touches down at Penn State". Altoona Mirror . August 9, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  6. Gardner, Michelle (January 20, 2022). "ASU adds two offensive linemen through transfer portal". The Arizona Republic . Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 "Des Holmes". Arizona State University . Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  8. Juliano, Joe (October 15, 2020). "Norristown's Des Holmes is part of perhaps the best Penn State offensive line group in the Franklin era". The Philadelphia Inquirer . Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  9. "ASU football's Des Holmes, Omarr Norman-Lott out vs. Washington". ArizonaSports.com. October 8, 2022. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  10. Larsen, James (June 16, 2023). "XFL 2023 Rookie Draft Complete: Full List Of Players". ProFootballNewsroom.com. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  11. "Ottawa RedBlacks Transactions - 2023". FootballDB.com. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  12. "Ottawa RedBlacks Transactions - 2024". FootballDB.com. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  13. 1 2 3 "Montreal Alouettes Transactions - 2025". FootballDB.com. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  14. Alfieri, Joey (February 21, 2025). "ALOUETTES ADD AMERICAN OL DES HOLMES". Montreal Alouettes . Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  15. "Des Holmes". FootballDB.com. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  16. "Des Holmes". CFL.ca . Retrieved August 26, 2025.