Cole Holcomb “chomping at the bit” to get on the field
Published July 27rd, 4:27 EDT
by Bo Marchionte
Latrobe, PA – The inside linebacker unit in Pittsburgh has a lot of new faces. That is not to be put lightly. How new is the 2023 Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacking core?
When the Steelers opened last season in Cincinnati in Week 1 the following players were listed at the position: RILB Devon Bush, Robert Spillane LILB Myles Jack, Mark Robinson, Marcus Allen. The lone survivor is Robinson who is now joined by free agent additions Elandon Roberts, Cole Holcomb, Tanner Muse and Chapelle Russell.
With training camp upon us former Commanders team captain Holcomb is finally healthy after missing the last ten games of his Washington career. Taken in the fifth-round of the 2019 NFL Draft, knows the commitment needed off the field to and where being healthy is one of the biggest components to carving out a career in the league.
“Feeling good dude, I’m like a kid in the candy store,” Holcomb said. “It’s been a while since I’ve been able to get out there and play some actual ball. I’m chomping at the bit.”
The feeling is probably mutual with the Steelers who must be anxious to see their free agent signing have no limits as the onset of training camp is upon us at St. Vincent College. Over the last two years he emerged as one of the most productive inside linebackers in the National Football League.
In 2021, he finished tenth in the league in tackles (142), averaging 8.8 tackles per game. Last season he was on pace to exceed his previous year’s total when Holcomb was close to ten tackles per game 9.6. He would finish with 69 tackles on the season but fell short of building on his breakout season two years ago.
Holcomb is both fired up about being ready to roll and embraces the atmosphere of what Coach Tomlin calls a “destination camp” with the setting of the team practicing during training camp on the campus to St. Vincent College.
“Dude it was like, my rookie year in Washington I went to Richmond,” Holcomb said of his last time in a dorm room. “But the past three years have been Covid and then two back at home. It’s a big switch up but honestly, I love it. There are no distractions.”
When Holcomb mentioned the environment of zero distractions you could feel the general sense of how much he relished the idea that his life is going to be nothing but football 24 /7 over the next four weeks.
“Just let me go ball for a couple weeks,” Holcomb said.
The excitement of playing without limits coincides with Holcomb enjoying dorm life after just one night under his belt in Latrobe. The team arrived Wednesday the 27th of July and today marks the day one of the team hits the field in front of fans. It’s the full arsenal of what Latrobe has to offer that makes this such a special setting for both fans and players alike.
“Yeah, you just walk over into a dorm into somebody else’s room, and someone is playing cards.” Holcomb said of visiting teammates after one night. “Shoot they go board games they got NHL, FIFA and all that. It’s good team bonding.”
Holcomb sort of paused mid-sentence and simply said, “On top of that there are no distractions. Just go out and ball.”
That’s exactly what the Steelers want and expect him to do.
Photo Credit Frank Hyatt/College2Pro.com
