SV graduate Holl winding up stellar football career at Mercyhurst
SLIPPERY ROCK — The balance of Jacob Holl’s football career was nearly taken away from him.
Then he took it back.
The Seneca Valley graduate and Lakers linebacker was carted off the field after suffering a dislocated fibula during his team’s home opener against Kutztown earlier this season. Now a graduate student at Mercyhurst, Holl graduated with a degree in business management and sports business. He is studying organizational leadership in graduate school.
He’s demonstrating it on the field.
“When I was being taken off the field, I figured my football career was over,” Holl admitted. “That’s not the way any player wants to end it. But after the game, my leg snapped back in place. I’m not sure how. But it gave me hope.
“I asked the doctor if I could run in a couple of days. He told me to take it easy on it. I did ... to a degree. I was determined I was gonna play that next week.”
And he did.
“That’s just who he is,” Mercyhurst coach Ryan Riemedio said. “If there’s a way for Jacob to get on the field, he’s going to get on the field. He’s the heart of our defense.”
The 6-foot-1, 230-pound Holl was coming off a stellar 2021 season for the Lakers. He accumulated 103 tackles last year, including 9.5 tackles for loss and five quarterback sacks. He was second on the team in tackles and decided to come back for his sixth season of eligibility this fall, taking advantage of the lost 2020 year to COVID.
“I’m putting off life for another year, basically,” Holl said. “I feel blessed and fortunate to still be able to play football. It’s a kids game and I want to play for as long as I can.
“(Retired Mercyhurst coach) Marty Schaetzle did so much for me. I loved playing for him and I’m grateful to him. Coach Riemedio was our defensive coordinator and I love the direction, the new culture, he’s instilled here. The future of this program looks good and I want to help its progress as long as I can.”
Holl led the Lakers with 11 tackles in Mercyhurst’s 31-17 loss at Slippery Rock Saturday night. He recorded the 200th tackle of his collegiate career in that game. For the season, his 65 tackles — including 43 solo stops — lead the team. He also has 4.5 tackles for loss and a pair of interceptions this year.
Holl comes from a football family. His father, Don Holl, is head coach at Gateway High School and held the same position at Cathedral Prep and Seneca Valley. He was also a running back at the Naval Academy. His oldest brother, T.J., played college ball at Colgate and Louisville. Older brother Donny played at Mercyhurst.
“I appreciate every game I play now more than ever,” Holl said. “I know I’ve only got five left. It’s counting down. I cherish every time I leave the sideline and walk on to the field now. I get to play more football.”
With 35 total tackles in those last five games, Holl will end his playing career with successive 100-tackle seasons.
“Jake is around the football all the time,” Riemedio said. “He knows how to anticipate and read plays. What sets him apart is his football IQ. Coming from a football family, his dad being a coach, he’s known this game for a long time.”
Holl said he remembers being a water boy and ball boy when his father coached at Cathedral Prep and SV.
“I couldn’t wait until I was old enough to play for Seneca Valley,” he recalled. “I grew up on this game.”
He was an All-WPIAL player in high school and made first team All-PSAC West last season.
T.J. Holl is an assistant coach on his father’s staff at Gateway. Donny helps out when he can, “but his work prevents him from coaching on as regular basis,” Jacob Holl said.
Holl sees coaching in his future as well.
“I know I’m gonna wind up there,” he said. “I’ll circle back to this game, stay involved in football somehow. I love it too much not to.”
