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Not quite Roy Hobbs of The Natural, but you never know:
View: https://twitter.com/JordanStrack/status/1004906160166719488
View: https://twitter.com/DraftDiamonds/status/1004919969468043264
NFL Draft 2017: Nate Holley's legal woes are behind him, but is it too late for Kent State DB?
Updated Apr 19, 2017; Posted Apr 18, 2017
https://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/index.ssf/2017/04/nfl_draft_2017_nate_holleys_le.html
By Elton Alexander, The Plain Dealer
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Kent State's Nate Holley is free and clear to play football in the NFL. But is it too late to be selected in the 2017 NFL Draft?
Holley hopes not.
"I want teams to know, I'm done. I'm innocent. I'm free, I'm training and ready for the draft and for a camp,'' he said. "This is something I've grown from, and learned from. This has opened my eyes to life."
Holley spent the last five months working through the legal system to prove his innocence following his November 3, 2016 arrest for two alleged felonies.
Holley is now making calls and writing letters to let the NFL and individual teams know he is cleared to play professional football.
"Nobody really knows it's done and over,'' his agent, Ashanti Webb said Tuesday. "Nobody has written a word, except his school paper."
Athletes getting wrapped up in the legal system for domestic abuse has sadly become an all too familiar theme in college sports. The Kent State senior safety was arrested on felony kidnapping and felonious assault charges made by a former girlfriend.
Holley was immediately suspended from the team. After his arrest, Holley was released to a chemical dependency treatment facility, which raised another red flag.
He missed the final four games of the season when he would have been featured several times on national television as one of the leading tacklers in the nation. He was tracking to be one of KSU's all-time great defensive players.
At that time he was already projected as one of the top safeties in the nation for the NFL Draft, and a likely selection in one of the early rounds.
"He was a top 10 safety going into the season, and he was having a great year,'' Webb said. "He was a mid-round pick at that point with the all-star games and the NFL Combine ahead to improve on that."
But once arrested, Holley's NFL Draft chances faded. No postseason all-star game invitation to the Senior Bowl or East West Shrine game. No NFL Combine opportunity to meet individually with teams and show off his physical skills.
Players with questionable character credentials are not invited to that NFL sponsored event.
Instead, Holley spent the next five months in the legal system before finally clearing his name.
First, there has never has been a chemical dependency issue with Holley, according to his attorney, Jim Eskridge.
"As part of the original condition for his bond, Nathan needed to have a tracking device," Eskridge said. "Interestingly enough, this facility is the only place that has a contract with the Portage County Jail for that GPS bracelet. That is why he was released there.
"Nathan doesn't even drink. Nothing. The only thing on his record before any of this was a traffic ticket. Now this thing. And right now, this pock mark, it has just ruined him. Not right at all. But Nathan is looking forward to the next chapter in his life."
On February 9, 2017, following a two-day trial, a jury found Holley not guilty on the kidnapping and assault charges.
However, Holley had another legal hurdle to clear. Five days before the first trial, he was charged with intimidation and menacing by stalking by the same woman.
While the resulting not guilty verdict was a clear victory, it did not erase the latest charges from the books.
With the draft just days away, Holley relented to plead guilty to criminal mischief, which resulted in a $1,000 fine and 180-day jail sentence. That sentence was suspended on the basis Holley doesn't commit a crime for the next two years, or have contact with the alleged victim.
"I'm very happy with what I did and what I didn't do,'' Holley said. "I did what I had to do in the end to get on with my future. With that (second trial) lingering I would not be able to be a NFL player."
Holley did get a chance to show some of his skills during Kent State's pro day in March before scouts from 10 different NFL teams. He signed in at 6-0, 209 pounds and ran a 4.58 40.
Holley said he has already had contact with five teams, including the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets.
Only time will tell if there was enough time for Holley to actually get drafted. Or if in the end, it was too late.
-------------------------------
Nate Holley found not guilty of felony kidnapping and assault
https://www.hustlebelt.com/2017/2/9...d-not-guilty-of-felony-kidnapping-and-assault
Holley was suspended indefinitely from Kent State’s football team following charges filed Nov. 2016.
By James H. Jimenez@AVKingJames Feb 9, 2017, 1:08pm EST
Scott Warren / Bald Monkey Photo
As reported by Jordan Strack of WTOL-TV and other local media outlets, former Kent State defensive back Nate Holley has been found not guilty on all charges stemming from a Nov. 2016 case.
View: https://twitter.com/JordanStrack/status/829744244919263232
Holley was arrested and charged with felony kidnapping in Nov. 2016 in Franklin Township near Ravenna, Ohio and was immediately suspended indefinitely from football activities. The news fell just days before a nationally-televised game vs. then-undefeated Western Michigan.
Per reports from the Record-Courier, Holley pleaded not guilty Nov. 16 to felony kidnapping and felonious assault. A second felony charge, this time felonious assault, was tacked on Dec. 2016.
The trial began Jan. 24 and the verdict was delivered Thursday afternoon.
Holley was alleged to have held his then-girlfriend against her will by “taking her on a car ride” and then assaulting the woman when she tried to leave the vehicle, according to reports.
There is no word on what will happen next for Holley, whose football career was cut short due to the allegations. Holley, a product of nearby Whitmer High School, was one of Kent State’s defensive leaders and was projected to play at the professional level prior to his arrest.
Kent State Athletics has not released a statement on the matter as of publication.
---------------------------
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7GQB5TG8Cs
View: https://twitter.com/JordanStrack/status/1004906160166719488
View: https://twitter.com/DraftDiamonds/status/1004919969468043264
NFL Draft 2017: Nate Holley's legal woes are behind him, but is it too late for Kent State DB?
Updated Apr 19, 2017; Posted Apr 18, 2017
https://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/index.ssf/2017/04/nfl_draft_2017_nate_holleys_le.html
By Elton Alexander, The Plain Dealer
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Kent State's Nate Holley is free and clear to play football in the NFL. But is it too late to be selected in the 2017 NFL Draft?
Holley hopes not.
"I want teams to know, I'm done. I'm innocent. I'm free, I'm training and ready for the draft and for a camp,'' he said. "This is something I've grown from, and learned from. This has opened my eyes to life."
Holley spent the last five months working through the legal system to prove his innocence following his November 3, 2016 arrest for two alleged felonies.
Holley is now making calls and writing letters to let the NFL and individual teams know he is cleared to play professional football.
"Nobody really knows it's done and over,'' his agent, Ashanti Webb said Tuesday. "Nobody has written a word, except his school paper."
Athletes getting wrapped up in the legal system for domestic abuse has sadly become an all too familiar theme in college sports. The Kent State senior safety was arrested on felony kidnapping and felonious assault charges made by a former girlfriend.
Holley was immediately suspended from the team. After his arrest, Holley was released to a chemical dependency treatment facility, which raised another red flag.
He missed the final four games of the season when he would have been featured several times on national television as one of the leading tacklers in the nation. He was tracking to be one of KSU's all-time great defensive players.
At that time he was already projected as one of the top safeties in the nation for the NFL Draft, and a likely selection in one of the early rounds.
"He was a top 10 safety going into the season, and he was having a great year,'' Webb said. "He was a mid-round pick at that point with the all-star games and the NFL Combine ahead to improve on that."
But once arrested, Holley's NFL Draft chances faded. No postseason all-star game invitation to the Senior Bowl or East West Shrine game. No NFL Combine opportunity to meet individually with teams and show off his physical skills.
Players with questionable character credentials are not invited to that NFL sponsored event.
Instead, Holley spent the next five months in the legal system before finally clearing his name.
First, there has never has been a chemical dependency issue with Holley, according to his attorney, Jim Eskridge.
"As part of the original condition for his bond, Nathan needed to have a tracking device," Eskridge said. "Interestingly enough, this facility is the only place that has a contract with the Portage County Jail for that GPS bracelet. That is why he was released there.
"Nathan doesn't even drink. Nothing. The only thing on his record before any of this was a traffic ticket. Now this thing. And right now, this pock mark, it has just ruined him. Not right at all. But Nathan is looking forward to the next chapter in his life."
On February 9, 2017, following a two-day trial, a jury found Holley not guilty on the kidnapping and assault charges.
However, Holley had another legal hurdle to clear. Five days before the first trial, he was charged with intimidation and menacing by stalking by the same woman.
While the resulting not guilty verdict was a clear victory, it did not erase the latest charges from the books.
With the draft just days away, Holley relented to plead guilty to criminal mischief, which resulted in a $1,000 fine and 180-day jail sentence. That sentence was suspended on the basis Holley doesn't commit a crime for the next two years, or have contact with the alleged victim.
"I'm very happy with what I did and what I didn't do,'' Holley said. "I did what I had to do in the end to get on with my future. With that (second trial) lingering I would not be able to be a NFL player."
Holley did get a chance to show some of his skills during Kent State's pro day in March before scouts from 10 different NFL teams. He signed in at 6-0, 209 pounds and ran a 4.58 40.
Holley said he has already had contact with five teams, including the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets.
Only time will tell if there was enough time for Holley to actually get drafted. Or if in the end, it was too late.
-------------------------------
Nate Holley found not guilty of felony kidnapping and assault
https://www.hustlebelt.com/2017/2/9...d-not-guilty-of-felony-kidnapping-and-assault
Holley was suspended indefinitely from Kent State’s football team following charges filed Nov. 2016.
By James H. Jimenez@AVKingJames Feb 9, 2017, 1:08pm EST
Scott Warren / Bald Monkey Photo
As reported by Jordan Strack of WTOL-TV and other local media outlets, former Kent State defensive back Nate Holley has been found not guilty on all charges stemming from a Nov. 2016 case.
View: https://twitter.com/JordanStrack/status/829744244919263232
Holley was arrested and charged with felony kidnapping in Nov. 2016 in Franklin Township near Ravenna, Ohio and was immediately suspended indefinitely from football activities. The news fell just days before a nationally-televised game vs. then-undefeated Western Michigan.
Per reports from the Record-Courier, Holley pleaded not guilty Nov. 16 to felony kidnapping and felonious assault. A second felony charge, this time felonious assault, was tacked on Dec. 2016.
The trial began Jan. 24 and the verdict was delivered Thursday afternoon.
Holley was alleged to have held his then-girlfriend against her will by “taking her on a car ride” and then assaulting the woman when she tried to leave the vehicle, according to reports.
There is no word on what will happen next for Holley, whose football career was cut short due to the allegations. Holley, a product of nearby Whitmer High School, was one of Kent State’s defensive leaders and was projected to play at the professional level prior to his arrest.
Kent State Athletics has not released a statement on the matter as of publication.
---------------------------
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7GQB5TG8Cs