NIC-10's 100 Greatest Football Players: No. 39 - Jerry Holloway, East

Jerry Holloway was one of the greatest athletes among the greatest collection of athletes to ever come together at a NIC-10 school.

Holloway was the leading scorer on the East basketball team that won the 1974-1975 NIC-10 title with a 14-2 record. In track, Holloway was a state-level sprinter and hurdler on an East track team that ranks as one of the greatest NIC-10 track teams ever.

In football, Holloway was a tight end and defensive end on a team so stacked that he was somewhat overlooked. The 1973 and 1974 E-Rabs went 22-0, outscoring their opponents 656-130. Holloway's senior year was the first year the IHSA held playoffs in football and the E-Rabs stormed to the Class 4A state title, winning every game by at least 17 points.

With future Big Ten stars Russell Pope (Purdue) and Ira Matthews (Wisconsin) in the backfield, Holloway wasn't needed much in the passing game. Holloway had just 11 catches in two seasons for 189 yards and two touchdowns. He added other scores on a fumble return and blocked punt and he was one of 12 E-Rabs - out of 22 positions - chosen as first team all Big Nine as a defensive end.

Still, his unique blend of size and speed - Holloway finished second in the state in the 440-yard dash his senior year - made Holloway a hot prospect. Holloway made a unique choice. He turned down dozens of NCAA Division 1A schools to play at Division 1-AA Western Illinois University because it was the only school that would let him play football and run track.

At Western, his game blossomed. Western played him at tight end where he caught 75 passes in his career for 1,330 yards. His average of 17.7 yards per catch remains fourth all-time for the Leathernecks. He starred in track as well. He still holds the Western Illinois records for the fastest 110-meter hurdles and 400-meter hurdles. 

Western inducted Holloway into its athletics hall of fame in 2000.

Holloway's speed intrigued the St. Louis Cardinals, who picked him in the 10th round of the 1979 NFL draft. That started a frustrating three-year career for Holloway, who spent two seasons on the taxi squad for St. Louis and then bounced around three teams for the USFL in 1983 without ever appearing in a regular season game.

After 1983, Holloway walked away from football and went into the beer sales business in the St. Louis area. In 2016, he struck out his own with the help of investors, opening Brown Jerry's, a barbecue restaurant in Pacific Missouri.

No. 39 - Jerry Holloway, East
Year	Level	School	Accomplishments	Points
1973	High School	East	Winning Team	1
			Conference Champion	1
			Top Four - Top Ranked Team	2
1974	High School	East	First Team All-Conference	2
			Playoff Team	1
			Conference Champion	1
			Final Four	1
			State Champion	1
1975	College	Western Illinois	Letter Winner on Division 1AA	2
			Starter	1
			Winning Team	1
1976	College	Western Illinois	Letter Winner in Division 1AA	2
			Starter	1
			Winning Team	1
1977	College	Western Illinois	Letter Winner in Division 1AA	2
			Starter	1
1978	College	Western Illinois	Letter Winner in Division 1AA	2
			Starter	1
1979	NFL	Cardinals	10th Round Draft Pick	1
			Taxi Squad	1
1980	NFL	Cardinals	Taxi Squad	1
1983	USFL	Gunslingers	Free Agent Contract	0.5
Total				27.5

NIC-10's 100 Greatest Football Players