BRADENTON, Fla. — Jeremiah Holloman is now very wide open.
That would be an accurate description of his work on the field for Newton High School and for the Cam Newton team that has assembled for the IMG National 7-on-7 Championships this weekend at IMG Academy.
It also applies to his recruiting decision. The 4-star receiver told DawgNation on Friday evening that UGA’s lead on other schools has evaporated. The Bulldogs led after G-Day, but he’s taken trips to Georgia, Tennessee, LSU and Mississippi State since he went to Big Cat Weekend in Auburn.
He said then, he had some thinking to do after that Auburn visit. Well, now he’s got even more thinking to do.
“I don’t have a leader anymore,” Holloman said. “I am now just viewing all schools right now. Wide open. That’s where I am at right now.”
His wardrobe on Friday night reflected that. Holloman wore an LSU shirt with Georgia and Tennessee rubber bands on each wrist. There were only two UGA bands, but those were thicker than the five combined Tennessee bands he wore on both wrists.
“As of right now I have my eyes opened to all types of schools,” Holloman said. “Auburn has been doing a real good job of recruiting me. Tennessee has been doing a great job of recruiting me. As of right now it is just a matter of where I feel like I would feel and fit in the best at. I’m going to take a lot more visits before I decide now. There are a lot more schools I need to take a look at. I want to visit Oklahoma State, Notre Dame, Oregon and Southern California. I have got to get to North Carolina. There are a lot more schools I have to get to before I make a decision.”
The nation’s No. 28 receiver for 2017 will use all his official visits in the fall to make up his mind.
“I will probably now milk it all the way out until to National Signing Day,” Holloman said. “It is not too complicated. I just need to make sure I feel like I am making the best decision for me.”
Holloman said the eight commitments that Tennessee received for “Orange Carpet Weekend” last weekend was interesting to him. He was excited to see his Newton High School teammate Jaquan Henderson commit to the Volunteers.
“That was pretty big for Jaquan to commit to Tennessee who was once one at the top of my list but now I don’t really have a top of my list anymore. That plays a big role for Tennessee in the future going forward.”
Does he have a top list anymore? A Top 5?
“I don’t have a top anything,” Holloman said.
He said Tennessee is still recruiting him harder than any other school. He still speaks to Volunteers coach Butch Jones every day. He speaks to the coaches at UGA every two days or so.
Holloman also has a big Georgia connection. His first cousin is recent first-round NFL draft pick Leonard Floyd.
“He tells me ‘Got to Georgia’ every time we talk,” Holloman said. “That’s what he tells me every time. I just tell him that I am looking into it.”
The Newton High senior said he will always feel the pull to stay in-state and play for the home school. He said that the commitments at Georgia still recruit him to join their class harder than their peers at any other school.
“I feel like Georgia will always be there for me down to the end,” Holloman said. “Ever since my freshmen year, they have always been after me and sending me papers and watching me during track season and all that stuff. They have always been there. I feel like they will always be there coming down to all my final straws.”
He believes that UGA still plans to sign four receivers for the Class of 2017. UGA already has three receivers committed for the Class of 2017, but there are a lot of other talented prospects on the board, too.
“Well now with either way they have told me that I am all good,” Holloman said. “They want me to be the fourth receiver to commit and close it all out but even if I end up not being the fourth receiver and have to commit at a later date then I am still good. They have told me that I can be the fifth commitment at receiver if it comes to that.”
Holloman is rated as the nation’s No. 220 overall prospect for 2017, but look for his ratings to soar after his work at Nike’s “The Opening” all-star prospect camp next month. Jeff Sentell covers UGA football and UGA recruiting for AJC.com and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Follow him on Twitter for the latest on who’s on their way to play Between the Hedges. Unless otherwise indicated, player rankings and ratings are from the 247Sports Composite.