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Justin Holt (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)
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While Arizona fans follow the Wildcats on the field against ASU today while checking their cell phone for score updates from UCLA, Julius Holt and his son will do the same in reverse.
They are in the Los Angeles area this weekend to celebrate Thanksgiving with family and to attend the Stanford-UCLA game at the Rose Bowl. The elder Holt, a former Wildcat who was part of the 1982 team that started “The Streak” against ASU, told me they will watch the Bruins on an unofficial visit at the behest of UCLA assistant coach Mike Tuiasosopo, a former Arizona assistant under Mike Stoops.
I asked Julius Holt jokingly about why he and his son are not watching the Territorial Cup game in person instead.
“Coach Tui has been keeping in touch,” Julius Holt said. “Arizona is still in the picture for sure. We always spend Thanksgiving with my wife’s family in L.A., and this trip worked out for Justin.”
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Justin Holt. (Javier Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)
The Holts’ visit to Los Angeles began with encountering an accident on the freeway there. A truck with its trailer hitched to it were overturned, blocking the street. The younger Holt, a lineman who plays on both sides of the ball, used his strength to seize a mother, son and grandmother out of the truck that was turned to its side.
The younger Holt, a Class of 2016 recruit who is 6’1″ and 295 pounds, is preparing for his final season of high school football now that Salpointe’s season is over. The defending state champion Lancers lost in the first round of the Division II state playoffs earlier this month.
Justin Holt played at defensive tackle and offensive guard for Salpointe. He may become a center when he plays in college. The elder Holt told me Arizona sees him potentially at that position.
The younger Holt has recruiting scholarship offers from most Pac-12 schools. UCLA is going as strongly after him as Arizona. USC, ASU, Cal and Nebraska are also involved along with others.
Tuiasosopo was a defensive line coach at Arizona from 2004-10 before leaving in 2011 to Colorado, where he coached for two seasons. UCLA coach Jim Mora hired him in February as the Bruins’ outside linebackers/special teams coach.
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@SalpointeLancer standout justin holt making visit to UCLA tomorrow. His dad Julius was part of Arizona's defense during the "Streak"
— Andy Morales (@AndyMorales8) November 28, 2014
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He also writes articles for Bleacher Report and Lindy’s College Sports.
