National Football League

LSU's Holliday hopes NFL is not too big for him

Published Apr. 22, 2010 5:43 a.m. ET

foxsports

At 5-foot-5 and little more than 160 pounds, Trindon Holliday has spent much of his life winning over critics who thought he was too small to play football, starting with his own mother.

Before taking to the gridiron for LSU, where he became one of the best kickoff and punt returners in school history, he was told he was too small to play major college football.

Years before that, as a child in Zachary, La., he was forbidden by his mother to play football until seventh grade because she feared he'd get beaten up.

Heading into this week's NFL draft, questions remain about whether Holliday's game - his world-class speed not withstanding - is big enough to be in the league.

``I just want the opportunity to show the different teams and general managers what I can do,'' Holliday said this week. ``If the NFL doesn't work out, I can go back to pro track. I wanted to pursue my dream of playing in the NFL.''

Holliday could be the fastest prospect out there this year. His official 40-yard time at the NFL's scouting combine in Indianapolis was second-fastest at 4.34 seconds, although Holliday insists, ``I can go faster than that.''

He ran track for LSU and was the 2009 NCAA national champion in the 100 meters with a time of 10 seconds flat.

In 2008, he got as far as the semifinals of the U.S. Olympic trials in the 100-meter sprint, narrowly missing out on an invitation to Beijing.

``Trindon Holliday will have to fit a specific niche'' in the NFL, LSU head coach Les Miles predicted. ``He's an exceptional returner. I feel he can be a piece in the passing game. Then those staffs who are advocates of the wildcat will enjoy having him be able to carry the ball with that speed. Trindon is not your traditional NFL draft choice, but whatever team picks him will be very happy.''

There is a precedent for small but speedy players making it in the NFL. Holliday sees himself following in the path of San Diego Chargers running back and returner Darren Sproles. But even Sproles, at 5-foot-6, 185 pounds, is a little bigger than Holliday.

``He's just a little taller than me, but in this league I don't think size really matters,'' Holliday said. ``If you got speed, I think that offsets the size.''

Certainly, plenty of players in the Southeastern Conference have NFL size, and Holliday was among the most feared return men in that league.

During his career he returned two kickoffs for touchdowns of 98 and 92 yards. He also returned two punts for scores of 92 and 87 yards. Last season his 18.1-yard average on punt returns led the SEC and ranked second in the nation.

LSU also found ways to use him effectively as a running back. He rushed for 57 yards in LSU's overtime victory over Arkansas last season - a game in which Holliday had 212 all-purpose yards, including 109 yards on punt returns and 46 on kickoff returns.

He was seldom used as a receiver last season, catching only three passes for 36 yards, but he spent the past few months working to show scouts that he could contribute to an NFL passing attack. And during LSU's pro day last month, New Orleans Saints receivers coach Curtis Johnson commented that Holliday's route-running and catching ability was a lot better than he'd realized.

Holliday said more teams were interested in him after LSU's pro day.

``I think I did a lot more to convince those guys that I'm not only just a specialist, that I can play a little slot receiver, too,'' Holliday said.

Holliday did not make any visits to NFL teams' headquarters, although he said several teams have called him in the past week.

``Most of the teams are talking to me as a return guy,'' he said. ``Offensive coordinators are seeing where I can fit in the offense. Speed is a big key to the NFL - and I have that asset.''