A tryout-turned-roster-spot linebacker who racked up 14 sacks over four years at Frostburg State before a strong final season at Tarleton State.
Yasir Holmes earned his way onto the Buccaneers roster the hard way, turning a rookie minicamp tryout invite into a signed contract. The Indian Head, Maryland native built his game at the Division II and FCS levels, first at Frostburg State and then Tarleton State, before getting his NFL shot.
Path to the league
Holmes played four seasons at Frostburg State from 2021 to 2024, then transferred to Tarleton State for his final year of eligibility in 2025. He went unselected in the 2026 NFL Draft, but the Buccaneers brought him in on a rookie minicamp tryout and signed him afterward, making him the 22nd player in Tarleton State football history to reach the NFL.
Career highlights
Across his four years at Frostburg State, Holmes recorded 14 sacks, 32.5 tackles for loss and 141 total tackles, establishing himself as one of the more disruptive pass rushers at the Division II level. He carried that production into a productive final season at Tarleton State in the United Athletic Conference.
2025 season recap
In his lone season at Tarleton State, Holmes earned United Athletic Conference Second Team All-Conference honors at linebacker. That performance, combined with a strong minicamp tryout, was enough to land him a spot on the Buccaneers' roster as one of four tryout players signed after rookie minicamp.
Sources
- Tarleton State Athletics: Yasir Holmes signs with Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- ESPN: Yasir Holmes
- Tarleton State Athletics: Yasir Holmes roster page
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Linebacker
- Group
- defense
- College
- Tarleton State
- Hometown
- Indian Head, MD, USA
- Age
- 23
- Status
- active
