Holloway to represent his city at UNLV
LAS VEGAS (BVM) – Some friendships become more than just that through sports. Take Legacy High School seniors Aaron Holloway and Evan Olaes for example.
The explosive quarterback-wide receiver pair have been friends since they were teammates on a basketball team in fourth grade, and it wasn’t until some convincing from Olaes that Holloway picked up football in sixth grade. Since then, the duo’s bond and play on the field has only gotten stronger.
“Evan is more than a friend, that’s my brother,” Holloway said. “He wanted me to play football for the longest and when we played, we just took off from there. My bond with Evan is special because that’s like my brother.”
The state of Nevada quickly found out just how special Holloway and Olaes’ connection really is after excellent junior campaigns. Olaes’ 3,186 passing yards led the state, and so too did Holloway’s 1,462 receiving yards as the pair connected for 14 touchdowns through the air.
“We have chemistry and practice so many days a year,” Holloway, ranked as Nevada’s 12th best overall prospect for 2021, said. “We just have everything down: slant, fade, hitch, even from just a look. We just connect.”
Nevada’s most productive receiver for the 2019 season was electric in nearly every game the Longhorns played, tallying eight 100-yard receiving games. A 219-yard performance against Paraclete and a 183-yard day against Desert Pines are just two examples of what Holloway believes earned him multiple Division I offers: playmaking.
“My playmaking and ability to move with the ball is what sets me apart,” Holloway said. “I’m also very quick and believe I can catch anything in sight.”
The three-star recruit had plenty of potential suitors for his unique playmaking ability, fielding offers from New Mexico, Idaho, Air Force and others. But when UNLV came knocking with an opportunity to play in an NFL stadium and represent his city, Holloway was sold.
The Rebels’ home field of Allegiant Stadium, also shared by the Las Vegas Raiders, and the idea of crossing paths with NFL scouts on a daily basis enticed itself to Holloway. But it’s UNLV’s coaching staff and the school’s proximity to home that has the senior confident in his decision.
“It feels amazing because I’ve been here my whole life,” Holloway said. “I feel like I have to represent because I’m here; this is my school because of the city.”
If this season is any indication of how the next might go, Holloway could be in for some early playing time with the Rebels. Sixteen true freshmen played for UNLV in 2020, including its leading receiver in Kyle Williams who was recently named Mountain West Freshman of the Year.
Holloway is the only local player in the Rebels’ 2021 recruiting class that ranks third in the Mountain West behind San Diego State and Boise State. The Las Vegas native hopes the trend of playing freshman continues, and that he can earn his way onto the field sooner than later.
“They’re (UNLV) playing true freshman which means they’re giving people chances to play, to work and get it done; I feel like that’s the place I need to be.” Holloway said. “If I can get on the field, practice and play how they (coaches) want me to be able to play, I can get that done.”
Holloway committed to UNLV after his quarterback and best friend found a home with another Mountain West program. Olaes committed to Colorado State in June, and the pair were almost a packaged deal until the Rebels’ offer came soon after.
Instead, the brothers since elementary school will likely see each other on opposite sidelines for a cross-division matchup in the near future.
“Evan and I always joke about that; we make a little random diss about each other’s school,” Holloway said with a laugh. “We’ve always been on the same team, basketball, football, any of that. It’s going to be competitive but all love at the end.”
