Washington Redskins Training Camp Profile: LB Cole Holcomb
Cole Holcomb is the newest member of the Washington Redskins linebacker room. He could find a role on the team, but he is facing stiff competition and will have to prove himself in training camp.
Cole Holcomb is the type of player the Redskins seem to have been drafting for the past few years. He has been a leader, contributor, and Redskins fans will appreciate the fact that he has faced adversity in college making him the player he is today. He was selected by the Redskins in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft with the 173rd overall pick.
Holcomb was the only North Carolina football player drafted in 2019. And it’s easy to see why he was selected. After he attained scholarship status with the Tar Heels, all he did was produce. Holcomb totaled 328 tackles in his four-year college career from 2015 to 2018. This is a tremendous number. Holcomb also ran a 4.48-second 40-yard dash which will be much-needed for the Redskins, as they are lacking speed at linebacker.
While Holcomb’s 6-foot-1, 231-pound frame seems to be a bit undersized, his college statistics showed his heart and tenacity. That led the productive linebacker on his path from walk-on to a Washington Redskins draft pick.
With the Redskins losing Reuben Foster to a devastating injury early in mini-camp, Holcomb is out to prove he can be at least a backup linebacker or solid special teams contributor as a rookie.
While the linebacker competition for the Redskins is fierce, one would wonder if more is needed for the group in the short and long-term. However, Holcomb does face stiff competition in making the active game-day roster. He’ll have to battle the likes of incumbents Mason Foster, Shaun Dion Hamilton, and Josh Harvey-Clemons as well as newcomer Jon Bostic, who has six years of NFL experience.
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As Holcomb was drafted in the fifth round, he should, indeed, make the team. But, it is worth keeping an eye on if he is able to pick up Greg Manusky‘s system quickly. While many Redskins fans are and were on the side of releasing Mason Foster after last year’s social media mockery degrading the team, he might just serve a purpose in being a veteran leader in the linebacker room who could have a positive effect on a player like Cole Holcomb.