Dwayne Hollis (born July 7, 1989) is an American football defensive back who is currently a free agent. He played college football at North Carolina Wesleyan College and attended Denbigh High School in Newport News, Virginia. He has also been a member of the Helsinki Roosters, Lehigh Valley Steelhawks, Trenton Freedom, Shanghai Skywalkers, and Atlanta Legends.

Dwayne Hollis
refer to caption
Hollis in 2017
Personal information
Born: (1989-07-07) July 7, 1989 (age 34)
Newport News, Virginia
Height:5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight:184 lb (83 kg)
Career information
High school:Newport News (VA) Denbigh
College:North Carolina Wesleyan
Position:Defensive back
Undrafted:2013
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
  • 3× First Team All-USA South DB (2010, 2011, 2012)
  • 2× First Team All-USA South KR (2011, 2012)
  • AFCA All-American (2012)
  • First Team All-PIFL (2014)
  • PIFL Special Teams Player of the Year (2014)
  • 2× Second Team All-Arena (2016, 2018)
  • ArenaBowl champion (XXIX, XXX)
  • CAFL All-Pro South Division All-Star (2016)
  • First Team All-Arena (2017)
  • AFL Defensive Back of the Year (2017)
  • Finnish National Championship Vaahteramalja (2013)
Career Arena statistics
Tackles:171.0
Pass breakups:23
Interceptions:16
Player stats at ArenaFan.com

Early life edit

Hollis attended Denbigh High School.[1]

College career edit

Hollis played for the North Carolina Wesleyan Battling Bishops from 2009 to 2012 and helped the Battling Bishops to 20 wins. As a sophomore, Hollis was named First Team All-USA South Athletic Conference as a Defensive Back. As a junior and senior, Hollis was named First Team All-USA South Athletic Conference as both a kick returner and as a defensive back.[2] Hollis was also named an All-American at defensive back by the American Football Coaches Association.[3]

Professional career edit

Helsinki Roosters edit

Hollis signed with the Helsinki Roosters of Vaahteraliiga in 2013.[1]

Lehigh Valley Steelhawks edit

Hollis returned to the United States in 2014 when he signed with the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks of the Professional Indoor Football League. Hollis was named First Team All-League as both a defensive back and kick returner.[4] Hollis was also named the PIFL's Special Teams Player of the Year.[5] Hollis was the only defensive player in the PIFL to lead his team in all-purpose yardage.

Trenton Freedom edit

Hollis signed with the Trenton Freedom for 2015, but he placed on the other league exempt list before the season began.

Philadelphia Soul edit

On October 6, 2014, Hollis was assigned to the Philadelphia Soul.[6] On October 9, 2015, Hollis had his rookie option exercised by the Soul. Hollis was named Second Team All-Arena following the 2016 season.[7] Hollis helped lead the Soul to an ArenaBowl XXIX championship.[8] Hollis was once again assigned to the Soul for the 2017 season.[9] He earned AFL Defensive Back of the Year and First Team All-Arena honors in 2017.[10][11] On August 26, 2017, the Soul beat the Tampa Bay Storm in ArenaBowl XXX by a score of 44–40.[12]

Shanghai Skywalkers edit

Holllis was selected by the Shanghai Skywalkers in the third round of the 2016 CAFL Draft.[13] He was named an All-Pro South Division All-Star.[14] He is listed on the Skywalkers' roster for the 2018 season.[15]

Atlanta Legends edit

In 2019, Hollis joined the Alliance of American Football's Atlanta Legends.[16]

Philadelphia Soul (second stint) edit

Hollis was placed on the league suspension list as a member of the Philadelphia Soul on March 20, 2019, after he signed with the Legends of the AAF. After the AAF suspended football operations, he was activated from league suspension by the Soul on April 6, 2019.

Albany Empire edit

On November 26, 2021, Hollis signed with the Albany Empire of the National Arena League (NAL).[17] On December 5, 2022, Hollis re-signed with the Empire.[18] On May 5, 2023, Hollis was released by the Empire.

Orlando Predators edit

On May 8, 2023, Hollis signed with the Orlando Predators of the National Arena League (NAL).

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Hollis' road: From Denbigh to Finland". www.dailypress.com. Daily Press Media Group. September 23, 2013. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  2. ^ "USA South Announces Postseason Football Awards". www.ncwcsports.com. North Carolina Wesleyan College Athletics. November 15, 2012. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  3. ^ "Congratulations to Football's Dwayne Hollis". www.ncwcsports.com. North Carolina Wesleyan College Athletics. December 15, 2012. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  4. ^ "Lehigh Valley Steelhawks' Dwayne Hollis earns Professional Indoor Football League honors". www.lehighvalleylive.com. PennLive LLC. July 8, 2014. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  5. ^ Josh Folck (July 17, 2014). "Steelhawks' Dwayne Hollis named Pro Indoor Football League Special Teams Player of the Year". www.lehighvalleylive.com. PennLive LLC. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  6. ^ "Philadelphia Soul Historical Transactions". www.arenafan.com. ArenaFan. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  7. ^ "All-Arena Defensive Back Returns Romain and Hollis Added to the 2017 roster". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. January 30, 2017. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  8. ^ "Philadelphia Soul ArenaBowl Champions, Silence the Rattlers!". www.talksportsphilly.com. TalkSportsPhilly.com. August 28, 2016. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  9. ^ Tom Ignudo (February 1, 2017). "James Romain, Dwayne Hollis will return to Soul roster for 2017 season". www.csnphilly.com. Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, L.P. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  10. ^ "Philadelphia's Hollis Named Defensive Back of the Year". arenafootball.com. August 22, 2017. Archived from the original on August 23, 2017. Retrieved August 23, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  11. ^ "AFL Announces All-Arena First and Second Teams". arenafootball.com. August 21, 2017. Archived from the original on September 16, 2017. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  12. ^ "Soul Snare Second Straight Foster Trophy in ArenaBowl XXX". arenafootball.com. Archived from the original on August 27, 2017. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  13. ^ "CAFL DRAFT RESULTS – SEE IT AGAIN – FULL RESULTS HERE". caflfootball.com. June 11, 2016. Archived from the original on October 17, 2016. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  14. ^ "The CAFL has announced their 2016 All-Pro South Division All-Stars". caflfootball.com. November 4, 2016. Archived from the original on November 7, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  15. ^ "Shanghai Skywalkers 2017 Roster". caflfootball.com. August 14, 2017. Archived from the original on September 29, 2017. Retrieved September 29, 2017.
  16. ^ "Atlanta Legends Set Final Roster for 2019 Inaugural Season Under Head Coach Kevin Coyle". Our Sports Central. January 30, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  17. ^ "2022 NAL Transactions". nationalarenaleague.com.
  18. ^ "2023 NAL Transactions". nationalarenaleague.com.

External links edit