Former UNC linebacker Cole Holcomb started his football career at the beach and is currently playing in Steel City.
At Carolina, Holcomb led his team in tackles twice and generated a 100-tackle campaign his final year, one in which he also was named Second Team All-ACC. Holcomb spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Washington Football Team, then signed a 3-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the offseason.
Holcomb made a crucial play in the Steelers’ Week 2 victory over the Cleveland Browns, stripping tight end David Njoku of the football just before his knee hit the ground.
On Sunday Night Football against the Las Vegas Raiders, Holcomb continued his impressive start as a Steeler, registering a tackle for loss, pass deflection and five solo tackles. In a game the Raiders should’ve won, Holcomb and the Pittsburgh defense did just enough to move atop the AFC North.
Holcomb gets to play alongside one of the league’s top linebacking corps – Kwon Alexander, Elandon Roberts, Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt, arguably the sport’s best edge rusher. The Steelers haven’t wowed on offense, with underwhelming quarterback play from Kenny Pickett and a virtually non-existent running game headlined by Najee Harris, but they haven’t needed to in order to win.
If Holcomb continues playing like this, he could carve out a long career in the Steel City.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.