Santonio Holmes hired as wide receivers coach at Central State University

Central State University has hired Santonio Holmes to be its next wide receivers coach, the program announced Monday. The university is a HBCU located between Cincinnati and Columbus, where he played college football at Ohio State.

“Central State University is excited to welcome Santonio Holmes to Head Coach Tony Carter’s staff as the Wide Receivers Coach for the Marauders football program,” his Central State bio reads. “A former Super Bowl MVP and first-round NFL Draft pick, Holmes brings elite-level playing experience and a deep understanding of the wide receiver position to the Marauders.”

CSU is located in Wilberforce, Ohio and compete at the Division II level. The program went 1-9 during its 2024 season, and hope the high-profile coaching hire helps develop its wide receivers room during his tenure. The program dropped its final seven games of the season, and failed to win a game at home (0-3).

“Holmes brings NFL-caliber insight, experience, and mentorship to Central State’s wide receiver corps. His understanding of offensive schemes, attention to detail, and firsthand knowledge of what it takes to succeed at the highest levels of football position him as a valuable asset to the Marauders’ coaching staff.”

As a player, Holmes is one of the all-time great receivers at Ohio State, as well as a national champion during his time in Columbus. He totaled 140 receptions for 2,295 yards and 25 touchdowns during his career and went on to be a first-round selection (25th overall) by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2006 NFL Draft.

He’s best remembered for his performance during Super Bowl XLIII, where he secured the game-winning touchdown and was later named MVP of the matchup. He caught a career-high 79 receptions for 1,248 yards during the 2009 season, his only 1,000-yard season of his career. Holmes spent nine total seasons in the NFL, playing for the Steelers, Chicago Bears and New York Jets.

FOX Sports announces TV rights for Ohio State vs. Texas in 2025

The blockbuster Week 1 matchup featuring Ohio State vs. Texas will be featured on FOX, the company announced on social media Monday. It will be a rematch of the national semifinal during last season’s College Football Playoff.

A kickoff time has not released as of this report, but the game will be played on Aug. 30 in Columbus. The Buckeyes are an early 3.5-point favorite in the matchup, per FanDuel Sportsbook.

Moreover, the game will be featured as the “Big Noon Kickoff” game of the week for the Week 1 college football slate this fall. The network also announced that it will once again be the home for the rivalry game between Ohio State and Michigan on Nov. 29.