Chants’ Holder winding down career among program leaders

Throughout the history of the program, Coastal Carolina has found few proficient pass rushers at the defensive end position, and one of the most productive Chanticleers in that regard could be playing his final game at any point now.

Senior Roderick Holder heads into the No. 9/10-ranked Chants’ FCS playoff opener Saturday against No. 18 The Citadel ranked tied for third in program history and tied for eighth in Big South history with 14 career sacks and also fourth in school history with 29 tackles for loss.

“What you’re looking for in that position is you’re looking for some length, you’re looking for some get-off, you’re looking for some size and you’re looking for some physicality, so it’s not easy to find,” Chants defensive coordinator Clayton Carlin said. “... But Rod brings those things to the table. I can’t believe he’s a senior. It’s flown by.”

Holder and the rest of the defensive line for Coastal Carlina (9-2) face perhaps their toughest challenge of the season Saturday at Brooks Stadium as The Citadel (8-3) comes to town with the second-best rushing offense in the FCS, averaging 344.3 yards per game on the ground with its triple-option attack.

He said knowing that the end could be around the corner at any point only has him even more eager for the challenge that awaits, but trying to defend the triple option discipline is going to be the key.

“[You’ve] just got to be cautious of what you’re doing and make sure mentally you’re focused on what they’re doing,” Holder said. “You can’t freelance and run around and stuff; you’ve just got to stay focused on what they’re doing, your assignments and just stay focused mentally.”

Steadiness has been one of Holder’s best attributes in his time in Conway.

He had a breakout season last year with 6.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss and has backed that up with 4.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss this fall, seemingly delivering a bulk of those big plays at pivotal moments for the Chants.

The program record for career sacks is 17 by Phillip Oboh from 2006-08, so Holder has a chance still to challenge that with a big postseason. Meanwhile, he also ranks second in program history with 12 quarterback hurries.

“It means a lot. I put in a lot of work. I came down here and really focused on being the best I could be,” Holder said. “I felt very overlooked [coming out of] high school so I had a little chip on my shoulder. But like I said, my coaches really put me in position to make plays – Coach Carlin and [defensive line coach Cory Bailey] really looked out for me and helped me get better on things that I struggled with.”

Holder came to the Chants with an impressive football lineage as his father Rod Holder was the starting center on Miami’s 1987 national championship team and won another national title with the Hurricanes in 1989 before launching a career as a collegiate assistant coach with his longest stint coming at Norfolk State.

The younger Holder was a first-team All-Big South selection last year for the Chants and earned second-team honors this fall, and his will no doubt be among the biggest holes to fill on the defense next season.

“Go off the field, he brings a tremendous amount of character and leadership and work ethic,” Carlin said. “He’s a coach’s kid. His dad has coached in college a long time, and you can see that. There’s something special about him ... Rod is a key, key part of what we do.”

This story was originally published November 27, 2015 at 5:41 PM with the headline "Chants’ Holder winding down career among program leaders."