BY TYLER BISCHOFF
tfbischo@go.olemiss.edu
Murphy Holloway, the all-time leading rebounder in Ole Miss basketball history, has sparked some interest from NFL teams recently. According to Holloway, eight to 10 NFL teams have contacted him. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Baltimore Ravens have already held a workout with Holloway, and the Philadelphia Eagles are coming this week.
“I’ve goofed around with (football) forever,” Holloway said. “I just felt like we had something special with this basketball season, so I didn’t want to risk it by trying to play football this year. It worked out well for (the basketball team), and I still have this opportunity to play basketball or football.”
NFL teams have interest in Holloway as a tight end, a position that other former basketball players have excelled at in the NFL.
Antonio Gates of the San Diego Chargers played two seasons at Kent State. Jimmy Graham of the New Orleans Saints played college basketball at Miami, then played one season as a tight end for the Hurricanes. Tony Gonzalez, the all-time leader for receptions and receiving yards by a tight end, played basketball and football at California.
Holloway’s size, 6-foot-7, 240 pounds, is the main reason NFL scouts think he can play tight end.
Having not played organized football since his sophomore year in high school, Holloway acknowledged that he has work to do to make an NFL roster, but the biggest issue is blocking.
A potential basketball career isn’t over for Holloway just yet, however. He is projected to go undrafted in the NBA Draft and would have to win a spot on an NBA roster in the summer. Playing professional basketball in Europe is an option, but it’s something he would like to avoid.
The NFL Draft will begin Thursday and will run through Saturday. The NBA Draft will be held on June 27.
