Height: 6-2.5

Weight: 300 pounds

Year: RS Senior 

Pro Comparison: Jared Odrick 

Pros for AJ Holmes Jr.

• Holmes is a flexible interior rusher with substantial upside to get after the quarterback 
• He has a notable first step, which allows him to win gaps early in reps 
• Texas Tech has used Holmes all over the line, showcasing some alignment versatility 
• Holmes plays with good overall effort, making plays in pursuit due to his motor 
• There isn’t any bad weight on his frame, and still room to continue to grow physically 
• He has shown a good initial rush plan with various counters as a pass rusher 

Cons for AJ Holmes Jr.

• Against the run, Holmes has some very real limitations 
• His stubby frame hurts his ability to play consistently at the point of attack, can’t anchor effectively 
• Holmes’ hand usage can be extremely hit or miss, punch location and timing is all over the place 
• There isn’t much more developmental upside for Holmes to tap into 

Background 

A.J. Holmes Jr. enters the 2026 season as one of the most accomplished returning interior defensive linemen in college football. After spending the first three seasons of his career at Houston, where he appeared in 29 games with 16 starts and totaled 67 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, Holmes transferred to Texas Tech ahead of the 2025 season. He immediately became a major piece of the Red Raiders’ defensive front, playing all 14 games and finishing with 38 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, seven quarterback hurries, four pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. Holmes earned Associated Press Second-Team All-America honors, along with second-team recognition from On3, while also landing on the AP All-Big 12 First Team and earning third-team All-Big 12 honors from the conference coaches. His 84.8 PFF grade ranked seventh nationally among qualifying interior defensive linemen, and he entered 2026 as the Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and one of the nation’s premier returning defensive tackles. 

Holmes is a Houston native who starred at Westfield High School, where he developed into one of the area’s top defensive prospects. As a senior in 2021, he was named District 14-6A Most Valuable Player after dominating from the interior with 96 tackles, 26 tackles for loss and 16 sacks in 12 games, while also recording an interception return for a touchdown and a fumble recovery. Despite that production, Holmes was rated as a consensus three-star recruit by 247Sports, On3, ESPN and Rivals. ESPN ranked him as high as the No. 47 interior defensive lineman nationally, while 247Sports and ESPN both ranked him among the top 100 recruits in the state of Texas. Holmes ultimately chose Houston over offers from programs including TCU, Virginia, Minnesota and Colorado, beginning a college career that has since developed into one of the more impressive late-blooming defensive line stories in the 2027 NFL Draft class. 

Player Evaluation

AJ Holmes Jr. offers intriguing upside as a pass-rushing defensive tackle because of his flexibility, quickness, and ability to create disruption from the interior. He possesses a notable first step that allows him to attack gaps and win early in reps, while Texas Tech has shown confidence in moving him around the defensive front to maximize his skill set. Holmes also plays with a strong motor, routinely making plays in pursuit and showing the effort to stay involved beyond the initial point of attack. Physically, his frame is well-proportioned without much unnecessary weight, and he still has some room to continue adding strength. As a pass rusher, Holmes has also demonstrated a promising initial plan with multiple counters, giving him the tools to become a legitimate interior pressure threat.

Holmes’ biggest concerns come against the run and with the consistency of his technique. He has some real limitations as a run defender, particularly because his shorter, stubby frame makes it difficult for him to consistently establish leverage and anchor against blockers at the point of attack. His hand usage is also extremely inconsistent, with his punch location and timing varying significantly from rep to rep and occasionally allowing blockers to gain control. While Holmes has some appealing traits as an interior pass rusher, there also isn’t an extensive amount of developmental upside remaining, meaning he will likely need to maximize his current tools rather than rely on significant physical or technical growth. Ultimately, his pass-rush ability gives him value, but his floor is tied closely to whether he can become more reliable against the run and with his hands.

Holmes brings good upside as an interior pass rusher on the NFL level. His lack of impact in the run game, however, could limit his impact as an every down player. You will have to find a very specific role for him to flourish.