Q & A with Santonio Holmes – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 6, 2005
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Q: Who is the best Ohio State defensive back you have gone up against in practice?
A: Chris Gamble. He is the best defensive player I have played against, period.
Q: Is fishing still your favorite pastime?
A: Yes. Always has been, always will.
Q: What are some of your other hobbies?
A: I play a lot of Play Station II. I talk to my mom on the phone a lot. I spend a few hours a day on the computer and I like to just lay in bed and watch TV.
Q: And you must spend a lot of time with your two sons. How old are they now?
A: Santonio III is 3 and NiCori is 1.
Q: Does Santonio III ever get to see his dad play football on television?
A: Yes. Whenever football is on TV his favorite thing to say is “look at daddy on TV,” but now every football player he sees, he thinks it’s me.
Q: And what about NiCori?
A: NiCori is pretty laid back. Whatever you are doing, that’s what he wants to do. And he’s already a ladies man. He loves the ladies.
Q: What is the latest thing he learned how to do?
A: He has figured out that food and juice come from the fridge, so he’s always pointing at the fridge. He won’t say anything. He’ll just point.
Q: What are your goals for your two sons?
A: My main goals for them are to see them grow up and have support from their mom and dad. I would like to see them graduate from high school and play whatever sports they want at whatever school they want. I want to support them 100% and not push any particular sport or activity on them.
Q: If you could pick one of your catches so far to end your highlight tape with, which one would it be?
A: The diving touchdown catch at Purdue (in 2004).
Q: Your TD grab against Michigan last year had to make you smile, too, right?
A: Yes, because there was a lot of talk about how good their cornerback, Marlon Jackson, was and that he had shut down Purdue’s top receiver. We never said anything directly to each other, but it just felt great to score a touchdown against someone as good as he was.
Q: Who was your favorite receiver to watch as a kid?
A: Jerry Rice. He’s the greatest.
Q: Have you tried to pattern yourself after him?
A: Yes. I have tried to do things on the field that resemble things I saw him do. When I would go out and play football with my friends and cousins I would try to imitate him.
Q: What other positions did you play as a kid in youth leagues?
A: Well, actually the first positions I ever played were offensive guard and defensive tackle. I was the biggest kid on my team so that’s where they put me. I wore No. 81 but it didn’t matter.
Q: You must not have stayed at those positions very long, though?
A: No, just that first year. Then they moved to wide receiver and cornerback.
Q: Where is the most interesting place you have been on vacation?
A: California for the Florida-California Bowl all-star game in high school.
Q: What is the one thing that is most wrong with your car?
A: The color. I wanted black but got silver.
Q: Your high school track team won the state title your junior year and was runner-up your senior year. What were your events?
A: The 4×400 and the open 400.
Q: Where did you place?
A: In the open 400 I placed fifth. In the 4×400, we finished first my junior and senior year and they have won the state title in that event every year since then, too.
Q: What was your best time in the open 400?
A: 47.5 seconds.
Q: You are a second cousin of Jacksonville running back Fred Taylor. Did you know him very well growing up?
A: Yes, I know him, but I’m a lot closer with his younger brother, Darnelius Jones. My dad knows Fred real well.
Q: What was the last CD you bought?
A: The Carter by Lil’ Wayne.
