Persistence just paid off in a big way for Kamari Holloway.
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound running back out of Southern High School in Durham, North Carolina, just picked up his first Power Four offer - and it came from Rutgers. For a Class of 2027 prospect, that’s a significant early milestone, and it didn’t happen by chance. Holloway earned it through consistent effort, both on and off the field.
Holloway is coming off a strong season at Southern, where his blend of size, speed, and vision started turning heads. But it wasn’t just his game tape that helped get him noticed by Rutgers - it was his approach. He stayed proactive, kept communication lines open, and made sure the coaches saw his work ethic firsthand.
It started with a conversation with Rutgers tight ends coach Scott Vallone, who handles recruiting in North Carolina for the Scarlet Knights. That initial connection opened the door, and soon Holloway was on the phone with running backs coach Damiere Shaw.
From there, things moved quickly.
“He (Shaw) called me the next day and we were talking on the phone about life, football and Rutgers,” Holloway said. “After that, he said he was going to get me to talk to the head coach and I said, ‘OK, hopefully they hit me back.’”
Instead of sitting back and waiting, Holloway kept the momentum going. He started sending training videos to the staff - a smart move that showed not just his athleticism, but his commitment to growth. That persistence paid off when Shaw followed up with a message: the head coach was ready to talk.
For Holloway, this Rutgers offer is more than just a recruiting milestone - it’s validation. It’s a sign that the work he’s putting in behind the scenes is being recognized at the next level. And while it’s still early in his recruitment, this first Power Four nod could be the beginning of a bigger wave.
Rutgers, for their part, is getting in early on a prospect who’s already showing the kind of drive and maturity that coaches love to see. Holloway’s not just waiting for opportunities to come to him - he’s creating them. And that’s the kind of mentality that translates well at the next level.