

Defensive tackle Thomas Holley leads the team in "Swamp Jacks" on Friday. GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- For two years, he sat and watched, mostly unable to get on the field thanks to a lingering hip injury that nearly ended his career.

So Thomas Holley had a choice to make. He could continue trying to gut it out playing defensive tackle as a run-stuffing big man in the middle, potentially risking further aggravation of his hip injury.

Or he could slim down and try a new position, hoping that would mitigate the stress on his hip.

"He’s a guy that was on the verge of a medical (hardship) because of that hip," coach Jim McElwain said. "His probably last chance to play was to lose a lot of weight, move to defensive end. It’s something he’s kind of been motivated to do. As you can see he’s really reshaped his body, doesn’t even look like the same guy."

Listed at 320 pounds on the team roster last fall, Holley has lost an astounding 60 pounds and checks in at 6 foot 3, 260 pounds this spring.

He has spent time with the second-team unit in practices this spring, flashing the same explosiveness that made him such a coveted prospect in high school as an Under Armour All-American.

His teammates, and even his coaches, hardly recognize him.

"I think he's trying to turn into a body builder," defensive coordinator Geoff Collins said. "I don't know what he's doing, but he looks great. Great attitude. The biggest thing for him is his health and taking some strain off of his hips."

Holley could have gotten down on himself. In two years, he has played in just seven games and recorded only three tackles.

He's watched as other freshmen have made bigger impacts, like CeCe Jefferson and Khairi Clark. But coaches say you'd never know he was seemingly on the verge of losing his football future at the time.

"He's another kid that didn't play a lot last year, but had a great impact on the defense and the team with his energy and enthusiasm," Collins said. "He's a team-first guy. He loves his teammates, always is there for them. If something bad happens to them he puts his arm around them. If something great happens to them, he's the first one that's jumping up and down with them. I can't say enough about the kid as far as who he is and the energy level that he brings."

If his weight loss translates to the field and Holley can stay healthy, Florida could have a freak on its hands. He's a former basketball player with incredible athleticism and burst. And he's got plenty of motivation after nearly having the game taken away from him.

Leaner than ever, Holley will be hungry in more ways than one to prove his worth for the Gators.

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