The Westfield State Athletics Hall of Fame welcomes all-star football player and defensive end Jessie Holmes as an inductee to the 2018 class.

 

Holmes played four years for the Owls football team appearing on two New England Football Conference (NEFC) All Conference teams, two All Region teams, and was the Westfield State Defensive Player of the Year his junior season. He also was named the NEFC Defensive Player of the Week twice in his career, once in his sophomore season and the other during his junior year. 

 

The 14 sacks and three fumbles caused in his junior year are both Westfield State football records that still stand today.

 

In his sophomore season (2002), Holmes was a part of a Westfield State defense that was ranked number one in the nation in total defense. That same defensive unit was ranked second in the nation in rushing defense and pass efficiency defense and ranked third in scoring defense. Holmes had a fumble return for a touchdown that season and helped lead the Owls to a Bogan Division Championship and an NEFC championship game before being ousted by Umass. Dartmouth.

 

During Holmes’ junior season, he was tabbed Westfield State football’s defensive player of the year, grabbing spots on the NEFC All Conference Second Team, ECAC All New England Second Team, and Football Gazette’s All-East Region Second Team. Jessie racked up 14 sacks, two fumble recoveries, three fumbles caused, a blocked punt, and a punt return for a touchdown in the Owls 7-3 campaign in 2003. He also led the Owls to a Bogan Division Championship for a third straight year.

 

In Holmes’ senior season, he appeared in all nine games and was part of a defense that was top ten in the nation in total defense and pass efficiency defense yet again. Jessie was honored with a spot on the NEFC All Conference first team to cap off his hall-of-fame career.

 

After his playing days, Holmes was a defensive line coach at West Springfield High School from 2006-2013; a team that won the Division I Super Bowl in 2009.

 

Holmes is currently a 7th Grade Science teacher at Hartford Magnet Trinity Academy and resides in Agawam, Mass. He is married to his wife Katelyn and together they have two daughters Sofia (16) and Jaelyn (6).