Dec. 12, 2010

BOSTON, Mass. - Junior linebacker Tyler Holmes was honored with the New England Football Writers Gold Helmet for Player of the Year. The Buck Buchanan Award candidate is UMass' first honoree since Dennis Dent in 1978. Holmes racked up 110 tackles as he was named an AFCA All-American. He led UMass in interceptions (5), TFLs (12) and sacks (5).

Holmes has also been honored as the CAA Defensive Player of the Year, CAA First-Team linebacker and New England Football Writers All-Star.

Holmes set a UMass record for interceptions returned for touchdowns in a game as well as a season with two against Maine on Nov. 6. He was the first player in all of Division I (FBS and FCS) since 2008 to have two picks for TDs in the same game.

Holmes has six games with double-figure tackles this season and was named the CAA Defensive Player of the Week three times (Sept. 6, Nov. 1, Nov. 8).