Raven Has Been Recruited All His Life.

Brandon Holloway is the tail back and slot receiver on The Alonso Ravens football team. He’s also a star on the school's track team, winning both 100 meter dash and 200 meter dash this year.

So it was disappointing when Brandon was disqualified in April's state competition for a false start.

“The 200m is really my race," he said. "That(getting disqualified) really hurt."

Marvin Bracy of Boone High School finished first with 21.24 seconds. Brandon Holloway’s regional time would have got him second place at that race.

As it was, he still made the finals at states in the 100m. He did not run his best race. He finished seventh place with a time of 10.87 seconds but even that was a bit slower than his regional time of 10.63 seconds, which would have netted him third place.

Brandon keeps his track record in perspective.

“I always thought of track as conditioning for football,” he said.

With 12 scholarships from different universities to consider, Brandon plans to make his unofficial visits this summer and will hopefully have a host of great opportunities waiting for him at the next level.

Brandon is no stranger to being recruited.

His current track coach Roger Mills, started scouting him while he was still at Davidson Middle School in Westchase.

Mills wasn’t scouting so much as encouraged. Brandon lives in the Westchase area and would have gone to Alonso anyway, but it was Mills that got the youngster interested in running track.

“He originally talked me into running track and helped me work on my form,” said Brandon, refering to Mills.

Brandon also credits his mother for encouraging him.

“She’s always been there. She makes sure I have everything I need," he said. "I definitely wouldn’t be here without her help."

US Olympian Tyson Gay serves as the teens inspiration.

“He(Gay) is just like me in a way," he said. "He’s not the biggest guy but he really concentrates on his form."