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was like 'I don't care!'" Holmes said. "I went in and kind wasn't a primary option; the Raiders had others, like of moped into the huddle and the next play I dropped it. receiver Duron Carter, the son of former NFL receiver (Parker) said, 'It started when you came in: You moped Cris Carter; running back James White, Wisconsin's to the huddle and you didn't want to be in there.' He's current starter, and running back Giovani Bernard, a just on me constantly." second-round pick by Cincinnati in April's draft. Changing is a work in progress. Still, Holmes showed, um, potential enough to be the "All his body language leading up to that drop is the 39th-ranked tight end in the country by Rivals.com. reason why he dropped the ball," Parker said. "It had "By the time he was a senior, he really grew into his zero to do with the play actually, so changing all those body," said Smith, a 1971 graduate of Purdue. "He was little things about his body language and doing all those skinny, kind of like just filling out because he was so things that allow you to put yourself in position to be- tall, and everything started to catch up. He got stronger come great are exactly what I'm responsible for making and much bigger." change and we improve it." But that development has not yet followed Holmes to Parker has experience in doing that. Purdue, at least in terms of results. At Marshall, where Parker coached the wide receivIn three years, including as a part-time starter the ers the last two years, Aaron Dobson was a middling, last two seasons, he has accumulated only 37 receptions perhaps underachieving, player during his first couple for 305 yards and three touchdowns. seasons. But he blossomed in his last year, turning into Holmes wants more. Although he's likely not on the a second-round draft pick of the Patriots this spring. NFL's radar as of now, he would like the opportunity to "There's a lot of similarities," Parker said. "A lot of continue his career after this season. To get that, howability and (Holmes) hasn't done a lot with that ability ever, he'd likely need a huge 2013. yet, and it's either time to flip the switch and let's figure It's possible. it out or finish with an average career." "Everybody knows that Gabe has unlimited potenPerhaps it will help Holmes to have Parker, his first tial," said roommate Sean Robinson, a junior linebackfull-time position coach. er. "There was a time we were matched up one-on-one Under Hope, Purdue used graduate assistants to (on a route) and after I ran over to the sideline, the first coach its tight ends, and while that might have worked thing that (linebackers) coach (Marcus) Freeman said fine, it probably didn't give Holmes the intricate instruc- is 'That's an NFL tight end. It's as good a look you're tion he might have needed to improve. going to get ever from a route-running tight end.' "They didn't really get on me as much because they "Gabe can compete with anybody at tight end. If he weren't position coaches," Holmes said. "… (Parker's) showed up to the (NFL) Combine, he'd look as good as not settling on anything but my best. When I'm not giv- anybody there, no question. But just like you could say ing him my best then he's on me like that. I make a big about our team, you've got to translate it to the field, and play and he doesn't pat me on the butt. He says that he knows that; everybody knows that. The ball's in his those are plays that I'm supposed to make." hands." j Holmes feels closer than ever after what's been a long journey. He joined St. Thomas I've got service Aquinas' football team for his sophomore year but quit only a week into practices because he yes I do... "just wasn't into it." Smith convinced him to come back again for his junior season, but Holmes didn't start and Trent B Johnson, Agent And, I am ready to prove it. 249 E State Street had only a dozen or so catches. CALL FOR A QUOTE 24/7 West Lafayette, IN 47906 Holmes was better as a senior, becoming a Bus: 765-743-9595 Toll Free: 888-825-6467 trentismyagent.com deep threat and collecting 18 receptions for 480 yards and three touchdowns. But even then, he P097276.1 GBIprint.com GoldandBlack.com State Farm Fire and Casualty Company • Bloomington, IL Gold and Black IllustrateD • volume 23, issue 6 • 33