Caleb Holmes is an ordinary guy with a tremendously inspiring story for the youth of today. Holmes, a Charleston, SC native, attended Goose Creek High School. As a teenager, Caleb took first place three times in the state power clean competition.
He was a wide receiver for the Goose Creek Gators football team that not only won the state championship in 2012, but was ranked 11th in the nation. Holmes was also a part of the 4×2 team in track that set the record in 2013.
After graduation, Caleb attended College of Faith in Charlotte, NC. Planning to use his incredible talents for the next four years, Holmes experienced his first set back in 2015 when the NCAA suspended their season after four games.
Not one to be held back long, Holmes took his passion and started his career back again in 2016, when he signed to play with the Upstate Dragons in the Supreme Indoor Football (SIF). He was primarily used as a kick returner.
Caleb spent a short time with the Columbus Lions during their minicamp in 2018 before he signed on to play with the Carolina Energy of the America Arena League. Unfortunately, before week 1 of the season, Holmes had to sit out because of a serious back contusion.
Out for the first half of the season, the Carolina Energy released him and he went on to sign with the Carolina Cowboys. Holmes played the last two games of the 2018 season for the Cowboys as a defensive back, where he allowed three catches for 10 yards, and 14 total tackles. He also averaged 15 yards per kick return.
The self-starting Holmes was then signed in 2019 to play for the Maine Mammoths of the National Arena League (NAL) as a wide receiver. Once again though, his talents went unused when the Mammoths decided to suspend operations of the 2019 season.
The Jacksonville Sharks then signed him for 2019. During the Sharks’ training camp, Caleb was called up to the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League (AFL) to compete for a roster spot.
Another setback in the form of a pulled hamstring prevented him from signing with the team. Holmes, however, is not a guy that just quits.
He asked himself two questions. “How bad do you want it?” and “What are you willing to do to make your dreams come true?” The answer led this talented, passionate athlete to do something he never thought of before.
During training camp for the Carolina Panthers, he decided to attend and show the Panthers coaches just how badly he wanted an opportunity to play.
Holmes made a sign that read “Starving for an opportunity. Will run routes and work out to feed my dreams!” on the first day, under the hot North Carolina sun, he received tons of encouragement from Panthers fans.
Walking along, talking to people about his sign, Caleb met a woman whose father is an ex- NFL player and who also knows a lot of recruiters. She told him to send her his film and she in turn sent it out.
On the second day, Holmes was approached by Panthers Director of Player Personnel Marty Hurney. He told Holmes that he looked to be in great shape, gave out his email, and requested Caleb send him film.
Now waiting to hear back about working out with the Panthers, Holmes continues to stay positive and focused because with him, the grind never stops.
