COD Football: Holt signs letter with Idaho

VIDEO: Austin Holt and Datona Jackson sign their letters of intent.

VIDEO: Datona Jackson (UCLA) and Austin Holt (Idaho) talk about why they chose to sign their letters of intent with their respective schools.

VIDEO: Datona Jackson and Austin Holt talk about their time with the Roadrunners as they sign their letters of intent.

VIDEO: Head coach Jack Steptoe with his thoughts on Austin Holt signing with Idaho and Datona Jackson signing with UCLA

COD Football sophomore inside linebacker Austin Holt (Palatka, FL) has signed a letter of intent with the University of Idaho.

The 6-3, 228 pound inside linebacker from Palatka High School in Palatka, Florida was named first team All-American-Mountain in his sophomore season in 2017. Holt finished in the top 10 in conference in sacks with five, totaling 22 yards lost. He had 57 total tackles, 27 solo on the season and taking 14th in conference for tackles per game. Holt was named Southern California Defensive Player of the Week in weeks one and three. His most notable game of the 2017 season was a home game against West LA where he marked seven tackles, two assists, a sack for a loss of ten yards and assisting in two more for a total loss of 29 yards.

Holt stated the reasons he chose to join the Vandals, commenting, "Because of the program and then when I went on my visit it felt like home, as a result, I decided to play for the Vandals for the next two years." Similarities between Idaho and his home of Florida, "No gators in Idaho."

Under fourth-year head coach Jack Steptoe, Desert finished the regular season with a record 4-6 overall and 1-4 in conference. The team was bestowed with three first team All-Mountain Conference honors and two second team All-Mountain Conference honors.

Holt commenting about his time with the Roadrunners, stating, "I had a great deal of success here, made a bunch of good plays and went to a Bowl game my freshman year, so it was a good place to be for me."

Coach Steptoe said, "It's pretty exciting to be here today and watch Austin sign with a Division One school." Continuing with, "(Austin) struggled from the beginning and then turned it around, came back here, left here at one time, thinking the grass was greener at another school, ended up calling me back and we sat down and had a conversation. Did a complete turn around and I'm really proud of him as well, showed some great character and tenacity about being able to do what he needed to do classroom wise that's why we're here today signing."

The University of Idaho is located in Moscow, Idaho, which is about two miles east of the Washington-Idaho border and about 300 miles north of the Capitol city of Boise. The Idaho Vandals play their home games inside the Kibbie Dome and the team is coached by 6th year veteran head coach, Paul Petrino. In the 2018 season, the Vandals concluded the year with a 4-7 overall record, with a 3-5 record in Conference play, finishing ninth. The Vandals are in the Big Sky Conference of the NCAA Division I.

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For additional information, please contact the COD Sports Information Office at 760.423.6641.

Information, Photo & Story provided by COD Sports Information.