Interview: 3-Star 2022 Arkansas DE/OL JJ Hollingsworth Preparing for the Playoffs

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

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Greenland High School is on a roll, winners of six consecutive games against Arkansas 3A squads. The Pirates (8-2) are a smash mouth team in the trenches thanks to the versatile talents of their three-star lineman JJ Hollingsworth. With the team peaking, the Pirates have earned a bye ahead of their showdown in the playoffs against Perryville.

During Hollingsworth’s sophomore season, the potential of what could be shinned through on the gridiron. Getting into his technique while garnering varsity experience, he compiled a stat line of 33 tackles, 14 solo, with two tackles for a loss and a sack playing end. The offseason dedication is showing on the field in 2020 with the 6-4, 250-pound, talent dominating off the snap. Second on the team in stops, Hollingsworth has put an end to 57 plays, 39 on his own, with 11.5 tackles for a loss, six sacks, and two forced fumbles.

His athletic abilities and strength allow the Pirates to alternate from a three-man to a four-man front with Hollingsworth moving around from nose guard to tackle, and out to end. His talents mean teams can no longer scheme against him on the outside and now must dedicate extra blockers up front opening opportunities for his teammates to make plays. All the same characteristics hold true when the field is flipped seeing No. 50 start at left guard.

On July 24, Hollingsworth verbally committed to the Arkansas Razorbacks putting an end to his recruiting process. To talk about it all, Hollingsworth stopped by the RNG Lab for a Q&A interview.

Interview

JJ, I guarantee you players that you’ve played against will be talking about you for years after the games have been played. You put some devastating hits on guys. Do you have a favorite?

(Laughs) I think my favorite was during my ninth-grade year against Mountainburg. It was a hit down the sideline, that one is my favorite one.

Looks like you get moved around up front from game to game on defense. What front are the Pirates running this season and how is the coordinator utilizing your talents in the trenches?

We are a three-front predominately, but we switch it up to mix up the look. If we are not switching it up teams are scheming away from me. I’ll mix it up where I line up from nose guard and defensive end in our three-front or in our four front I will play end and defensive tackle. That helps our team out a little bit.

If my stat check was accurate, you are second on the team in tackles, which is amazing playing nose and end. What are you doing so well this season leading to all the big plays?

My coach puts me in the right position to make plays, I am sticking to the defensive plan doing my job, and I am being a team player. I have not been head hunting this season. I am getting tackles when I can especially on hustle plays; that is where I have gotten a lot of my tackles, chasing the ball downfield and meeting them in the hole.

Which areas of your game have improved the most this season?

I feel like I have taken less plays off. I have improved on that. That is one thing I have worked on a lot, that and using my hands more and becoming a more dominating defensive lineman as a whole. Playing both ways, you get tired, but I give it my max effort.

With so much coming at you in the trenches, what is at least one challenge you’ve faced in a game that has made you better for the experience?

A lot of times I am double and triple teamed. But that has made me better. It gives me more experience and looks good on film for coaches to see what I am going up against.

Let’s turn to offense. Which position are you playing on offense?

Guard, but I am the fill in guy for every spot. I have learned all the plays for all the spots on the line. You never know when someone might go down. For now, I am starting at left guard.

How is that experience going for you?

It has been pretty good. The experience guarding the position I am playing, that gives me that insight helping me on defense. Plus, it also builds endurance and helps me overall in the long run.

The team won a sixth consecutive game last week taking down West Fork 41-21. How did the team look in your opinion in the season finale?

That was one of our best. We played a whole game, that has been our goal all season. I think we made the fewest mistakes, but we lost our quarterback in the end. He tweaked his knee. We made a lot of really good plays and we minimized our mistakes.

Perryville is next. What are you expecting from the Mustangs (6-4) offense?

They have a really good quarterback. We will put pressure on him. This season we have not played a lot of passing teams, I am hoping to get some sacks in. This week we are working on ourselves, that is our goal during the bye week to get better and get ready for that game.

With recruiting, you have the three reported offers and are committed to the Razorbacks, are there schools showing interest that have not offered?

There are a couple showing interest like Penn State, Mississippi State, Stanford, Rice, and Colorado.

When you committed to the Hogs on July 24, what was it about the program that worked as an ideal fit for you?

They showed me a lot of love. That was the offer I wanted for a long time. They have a really good coaching staff. They want me and I want to go somewhere I am wanted.

JJ, I appreciate your time today and wish you and the team success throughout your playoff run.

Thank you.

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Photo credit: Hollingsworth family; JJ Hollingsworth