Dax Hollifield Virginia Tech linebacker. That is how Hokie Nation knows him. But now he is Dax Hollifield NFL draft hopeful. Will the five-year starter, captain, and emotional leader of Virginia Tech hear his name called at this weekend’s NFL draft?
Hollifield finished his Virginia Tech career fourth on the all-time tackles list with 355. He had 30 tackles for loss and 12 sacks, as well as 4 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries. Will those numbers be enough for an NFL franchise to draft him?
Those who know him know that Hollifield offers much more than the measurables. And if professional scouts have done their homework, they will know that too. I’m betting that one franchise does indeed take that chance on a guy who has done nothing but work hard for so long at the game he loves.
Thank you VT ➡️ NFL Draft pic.twitter.com/DWTOaYrMVY
— Dax Hollifield (@ChiefDax_25) March 20, 2023
Hollifield’s Draft Outlook
Consensus opinion among draft projections is that Dax Hollifield is a late round pick at best, and if he is not selected, then he will likely sign a contract as an undrafted free agent. To Hollifield, this is “completely fine with me.”
“I would love to be drafted,” he admits, “and there have been teams that have been high on me.” Hollifield says that he has been in contact with nine teams and he likes the potential that brings. “That’s a quarter of the league,” he points out, “and all I need is that one opportunity…that one team that’s going to give me a shot.”
What the Scouts Say
A quick search of Hollifield’s draft profile will reveal what the scouts say. He has a lot of experience, he has good instincts, and he possesses a high football IQ while processing things very fast. He is explosive in the box and shows good strength in making tackles. Hollifield lacks downfield speed, but he does have first-step quickness, and he moves well from side to side.
The part of the game that pops off tape with Dax Hollifield is his remarkable instincts. The dude freaking balls out. He maneuvers through traffic well and makes stellar tackles. He does this kind of stuff all of the time.
I’m a big fan of his game. pic.twitter.com/vsOdqhz4RD
— John Vogel (@DraftVogel) January 23, 2023
What Dax Says
The measurables are what they are. But they do not tell the full story, as Hollifield brings so much more to the table that no scout can quantify in a combine or a Pro Day. He is a self-proclaimed “film junkie” who will “treat football with a professional mindset.”
Hollifield is also quick to highlight his durability. “I haven’t missed a football game in middle school, in high school, or in college over five years.” And he has only missed two practices in his entire Virginia Tech career, which includes a COVID year! (I know, I know, if you are a Hokie, find the nearest piece of wood and start knocking or grab the shaker and throw the salt over your shoulder!!)
As a starter for most of his five seasons, the multi-year captain understands very well the value of a team-first approach. “I’ll put team goals over individual goals any day of the week,” he confesses. A very reflective guy, Hollifield knows he is the kind of teammate to ask himself, “What can I do to make my team better? How can I make other people around me better?” He wants to help his team have success, because “that’s my number one goal.”
Push Mower Mentality
Another positive attribute of Hollifield’s that will not appear on his draft report is what he calls a “Push Mower Mentality.” Reminiscing about his childhood, Hollifield describes a formative experience of his youth. “Growing up, my dad’s got two young boys, so he got us three push mowers, and we’d just go in a line,” he remembers. “It was uphill, pretty tough to mow.”
Those who have push mowers can relate to this. With children, chores like this are where values of hard work and determination are born. Hollifield acknowledges how this is part of his identity. “It’s a way of doing things. That blue collar, lunch pail mentality,” he says, tying in those themes that overlapped with what he experienced playing under Bud Foster. “I’m gritty. I’m the guy getting dirty in the yard, no matter if it’s raining or sunny. I’m gonna get messy, that’s who I am.”
And any NFL club who takes Hollifield will get just that – a player who grinds, whose uniform will be among the dirtiest at the end of the practice or game because he’s going all out, all the time. The sweaty kid with grass stains on his shoes will now be the sweaty teammate with dirt on his uniform.
Typical Dax Hollifield (@ChiefDax_25). 🙂 pic.twitter.com/M8dMSyxxHn
— Ivan Morozov (@ivanmorozov) October 21, 2019
Takeaways from the Tropical Bowl
After the 2022 season ended, Hollifield was selected to play in the Tropical Bowl, an annual post-season all-star game that has seen over 350 of its alumni go on to the NFL. This experience helped his case for the NFL Draft, as he performed well in the game, tying for a team-high three solo tackles and adding a quarterback hurry. The outcome allowed Hollifield to come away from the event in a better mental state.
Although he has always been confident in himself, this was a chance to compete against players on a national level, not just a conference level. After that Tropical Bowl performance, Hollifield believes he can compete with anyone. “I gained a lot of confidence in my play. I believe in myself as a football player.”
Positive Outcomes from his Pro Day
After the Tropical Bowl, Hollifield had time to prepare for the Virginia Tech Pro Day, which would come two months later in March. In the offseason, he trained in Atlanta and worked out with defensive back teammates Chamarri Connor and Brion Murray. This helped him at the Pro Day as he feels he showed his athleticism, and as a former basketball player too, he was “flipping my hips, which I feel like I’m very good at” and that can help him in pass coverage.
In addition to addressing coverage questions, Hollifield wanted to use the Pro Day to overcome the other doubts of speed and weight. He knows he is not a blazer, but he feels that even though his 40-yard dash time was average, “my other times were really, really good. The shuttle, L-drill, broad jump, they were elite numbers.”
As for his weight? Hollifield admits, “The game is all about speed, it’s all about playing in space now. The better athlete is usually the lighter one, the one who can move better. So I needed to drop weight.” He came in lean, shedding almost twenty pounds from his 2022 playing weight, and he worked out at 231 pounds.
Intangibles and Versatility
When asked what else he brings to the table, Hollifield shares that he knows how to deal with adversity. Those who follow Virginia Tech football know that the team did have its fair share of struggle over the past five years. Hollifield has been able to learn and grow from that struggle, especially in how to overcome it. “My approach each and every day was the same. The only way to fix things is to put your nose to the grindstone and go back to work.”
He also has added a new dimension to his workouts – yoga. Because of that, he feels that his “hips are loose, feet are getting strong, and I’m more flexible.” His yoga workouts have made him “feel like a really good athlete right now.”
There are also the mental benefits of yoga. “It’s a really good way to control your mind in tough situations. You stay grounded.” He has also used the breathing exercises to learn to calm himself, which helps to “get my mind back to a middle ground, a place where you’re familiar with, where you operate best.” And that also aids in dealing with adversity.
Final Thoughts on the Dax Hollifield NFL Draft Outlook
Dax Hollifield ranks in the top fifteen of inside linebackers, but since he is more of a run stopper and pass rusher, he could find resistance from NFL teams in a league that has moved away from the traditional middle linebackers.
However, it sounds cliché, but he is willing and able to do whatever it takes to make it into the League. He has even practiced long snapping! He worked on it every day at practice last season, and he know he is “not at the NFL level yet, but it’s another way to help a team.”
Realistically, Hollifield could find himself playing special teams to start his NFL career. That is how he began his collegiate career, one of four true freshmen to start their first game as a special teams player. He relishes that idea. It is a chance to play.
“I would love to run down on kickoffs, punt, kick return, punt return, that would be a dream come true for me,” he reveals. “If I don’t play a snap of linebacker my whole career, and I just get to play special teams…whatever it takes to make a roster…that’s what I am going to embrace.”
After this weekend is over, let’s hope he gets that opportunity to run down a field on a kickoff!
To read more of my articles on Virginia Tech football, click here.
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