Watch: FCS DL Excels During Pro Day

Originally posted on Mike Farrell Sports
By Mark Pszonak | Last updated Mar 27, 2025 9:01 AM ET

FCS players, even those who are very productive during their careers, often have to go above-and-beyond to get noticed before the NFL Draft. South Dakota defensive lineman Blake Holden accomplished that yesterday during the Coyotes’ Pro Day.

Impressive showing from Blake Holden on the bench.

He goes 33 reps deep, which would have tied the best mark at this year's NFL Combine. It was also 4 reps higher than the best DT at the combine. pic.twitter.com/N0pVAaPJZC
— Nathan Swaffar (@NathanSwaffar) March 26, 2025

As mentioned by Nathan Swaffar of The Mitchell Republic, Holden produced 33 reps on the bench in front of 27 NFL scouts. That would have tied the highest amount at the 2025 NFL Combine with Cincinnati offensive linemen Luke Kandra.

Holden, 6-foot-3 and 300-pounds, isn’t just a workout warrior though. As a three-year starter and team captain with South Dakota he totaled 139 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and nine sacks. This included a second-team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection after the 2024 season.

While he won’t suddenly fly into the upper rounds of next month’s NFL Draft, Holden is a name worth remembering in the later rounds. With his combination of strength, size and production, he has the potential to make some noise at the next level.

This article first appeared on Mike Farrell Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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