Junior Day Report: Darnay Holmes
Five-star Darnay Holmes, perhaps the nation's top cornerback prospect, returned to Stanford for his fourth visit last weekend. Holmes was among a strong group of Junior Day visitors on The Farm.
"It went fine," Holmes said. "Just to be able to talk to all of the coaches again and sit down with Coach Akina in the film room and hang out with him and see what he's teaching these guys and see one of his prodigies, Quenton Meeks, is doing a great job this year. (Quenton is) another great friend of mine - he was one of the first guys to come talk to me when I first visited Stanford. So seeing him develop as a student-athlete was an eye-opening thing. I had a great chance to see the dorm life and social life at Stanford hanging out with Francis Owusu and his friends. (I also) had a chance to talk to Coach Alamar and see the ways he can use me as a return specialist."
Holmes listed the campus tour, watching the scrimmage (and good friend Francis Owusu performing in it) and his meeting with Akina as some of the trip's highlights.
In addition to defensive back, Holmes' primary position, Stanford discussed the possibility of Holmes contributing as a return man and on offense during the visit.
The visit also included discussion of Stanford's admissions process.
"I'm on track and all of that," Holmes said. "I just have to straighten out my senior year classes, get those two AP classes in there, then I should be fine."
Holmes will be taking his standardized test later this spring; he might begin working on his Stanford application after receiving his scores.
"I can get started (on the application) if I want, but I'd rather get my test scores in and get that all situated before I start doing these essays while I'm in school myself," Holmes said.
Overall, the visit reinforced to Holmes both the impact he could have on Stanford and the impact the university could have on his future.
"The biggest takeaway from this trip was just to see that I have a chance to be a big contributor to Stanford football on and off the field and just to have a chance to change my life if I attend their university academically," Holmes said.
Holmes plans to announce his college choice on June 23rd. Stanford, Nebraska and UCLA are among several finalists.
What factors will influence the Rivals100 standout's decision?
"Can I be there all four years of my life?" Holmes said. "Is the social life made for me? I don't want to be with a group of girls and guys that I can only be with for a certain amount of hours when I have to be around them for four years. How are the academics there? Will my degree take me a long way after football? And will I be a first-round draft pick and help my family out?"