Mrs. Barbara - "The Tiger"
Marcus Holbert had to choose between playing tight end or defensive end in college. The Will C. Wood High School senior weighed his options, and on Monday verbally committed to accept a full-ride football scholarship at Azusa Pacific University.
"I like playing tight end, but I've always been a better defensive player," Holbert admitted. "They told me I would be competing for a starting spot, and I would play as a freshman, travel with the team and everything. That was a big deal for me.
"I also wanted to be in L.A., or Southern California somewhere. It was a perfect fit for me, and the coaches were very nice people. They really seemed like they cared about me as a student and as a player."
Holbert said the Cougars have tabbed him as a stand-up defensive end in their defensive scheme. At 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, he said he will try to add strength, but hasn't been asked to gain weight.
"I think it's a great opportunity for him," Wood head coach Mike Boles said. "Defensive end is probably one of the better spots for him. We used him inside more, because he has such a big wingspan that he was able to cover both 'A' gaps and part of the 'B' gaps. But he has pretty good speed, and very, very good moves, and I think he'll do well in that system."
Holbert had 55 tackles and five sacks as a senior with the Wildcats, and also occupied multiple offensive linemen so Julian Kenion and Sam Homich could make the bulk of the tackles.
He will join a Cougars team that struggled in 2008 but has been an NAIA powerhouse. Azusa went 2-8 last season, but made the NAIA playoffs in 2007. The Cougars also reached the NAIA finals as recently as 2004, when they finished 11-3.
Holbert, who has a 3.8 grade point average, plans to major in history or social studies. He would like to teach and possibly coach in the future.
The senior also weighed offers from Fresno State, Sacramento State and the University of San Diego.