2024 Football Roster
Jersey Number 33
Ezekiel Holmes
- Position:
- DL
- Class:
- Senior
- Height:
- 6-5
- Weight:
- 270
- Major:
- Diversity & Equity in Education
- Hometown:
- Wichita Falls, Texas
- High School:
- Hirschi
Pronunciation: ee-ZEE-kee-uhl
 University of Illinois Graduate |
2024 Senior
- Played in all 12 regular-season games
- Forced first-career fumble in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl against South Carolina (12/31/24)
- Registered first-career sack against Minnesota (11/2/24)
- Recorded first-career FG block and pass breakup against #24 Michigan (10/19/24)
- Seventh season with the Illinois program
2023 Junior
- Played in eight games
- Nine tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss on the season
- Tackles for loss against Wisconsin (10/21/2023) and at Maryland (11/04/2023)
- Two tackles (one solo) in return vs. Penn State (9/16/23) more than a year after season-ending injury in 2022
2022 Junior
- Played in the first three games of the season, with one start at outside linebacker, before a season-ending injury
- Medical redshirt
- Three tackles on the season
2021 Sophomore
- Played in all 12 games
- Five tackles and 1.0 TFL on the season
- Recorded 1.0 TFL and three tackles against Virginia 9/11/21
2020 Sophomore
- Played in four games on the defensive line
2019 Redshirt Freshman
- Played in one game
- Made Illinois debut in the season opener against Akron
2018 Freshman
- Redshirted 2018 season
High School
- Three-star recruit by 247Sports
- Ranked No. 60 weakside defensive end in the nation by 247Sports
- Played for head coach Danny Youngs at Hirschi
- Three-time all-district
- 2017 all-state second team
- 96 tackles, 38.0 TFLs, 6.0 sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two touchdowns as senior
- 39 tackles, 1.0 sack, one interceptions and two fumble recoveries as a junior
- Also played basketball and threw shot put in high school
- Verbally committed to Illinois in February 2018
- Offers included Air Force and Washington State
Personal
- Born July 7, 2000
- Son of Enez and Ronnie Holmes
- One older brother, Ronnie A. Holmes, one older sister, Alexis Brown, and one younger sister, Miracle Holmes
- Plans to be an accountant or work with kids following his playing career
- Picked Illinois because, “Illinois was the best option for me to develop into a good young man.”
- Plays the piano and drums
- Majoring in diversity and equity in education
- Graduated from the University of Illinois with degrees in sociology (August 2022) and communication (December 2023)
Illinois Football | Bret Bielema Press Conference 3/5/26
Thursday, March 05
Illinois Football | Bobby Hauck Introductory Press Conference 2/12/26
Thursday, February 12
Illinois Football | Bret Bielema Press Conference 2/4/26
Thursday, February 05
Illinois Football | Xavier Scott Return Announcement Press Conference Press Conference 1/21/26
Wednesday, January 21
