James Holt knew what he had to do to cut down his time away from the football field: everything he could, really, even if it wasn’t much.

“The thing he did a good job of,” Kansas University linebackers coach Mike Mallory said, “was when he was off, he stayed in.”

That’s not easy. Because while Holt limped to meetings, watched film and rehabilitated a broken foot suffered in August two-a-days, his reward for KU’s first four games was a free ticket to watch from the stands – or worse, at home on his television set.

And that’s really no reward at all.

“It was real tough,” Holt said. “Practicing so hard through the summer, winter and spring and then just during two-a-days, break a foot or something. You’re sitting out and just watching the game. It’s pretty hard.”

Holt is finally back, healed and playing extensively at outside linebacker for the Jayhawks.

Part of his immediate playing time was due to the serious concussion Eric Washington sustained at Nebraska, an injury that might sideline the senior for the season.

But Holt was going to be a big part of KU’s defense no matter what. Knowing as much, he kept his mind sharp when his foot was ailing.

Kansas University linebacker James Holt (12) and the rest of the Jayhawks make their way from the field following their 21-18 loss to Texas A&M. The start to Holt's season was delayed by injury, but he has begun playing extensively for the Jayhawks at outside linebacker.

“He was in meetings, he did our test on Friday,” Mallory said. “He was into it, so he didn’t lose anything mentally. So when he did come back, he hit the ground running.

“That was good, but again, that was him. Just his passion for the game.”

Two-star talent

Holt is a classic Kansas coaching staff find – an example of how meticulous evaluation paid off on a player who wasn’t heavily recruited. Not unlike Charles Gordon, Aqib Talib, Kevin Kane or Paul Como.

A 6-foot-3, 220-pound sophomore out of Altus, Okla., Holt was passed over by most big Midwest schools, getting offers only from Oklahoma State, Kansas and Tulsa.

He chose the Jayhawks and came to Lawrence as a 195-pound safety in the summer of 2005. During the middle of his true freshman season – when he played extensively on special teams – Holt moved up to linebacker, though his play on defense was limited because of his slender frame.

Kansas University's James Holt, left, tries to block a kick from Kansas State punter Tim Reyer in the fourth quarter of the KU-Kansas State game last fall. Holt was a special-teams regular last season.

“He’s done a real good job of moving to that second level,” Mallory said. “A lot more action happens a lot quicker (at linebacker). Plays develop a lot quicker. He’s done a good job of mentally getting comfortable, because it does take time.”

Holt wasn’t completely inexperienced at linebacker, admitting he played “anywhere and everywhere” at Altus High. But it was mainly in the secondary, along with his duties as quarterback and kick-return specialist.

He played in all 12 games as a true freshman for the Jayhawks in 2005 – one of three true freshmen to play – and was in line to assume a larger role on the defense for 2006, possibly in third-down bandit packages as a pocket-rushing linebacker.

Knowing what he needed, though, Holt hit the weights hard looking to add muscle. By the time August two-a-days began, he had gained almost 25 pounds and weighed in at 223.

Fighting back

But then it happened.

On the same day safety Darrell Stuckey suffered a serious ankle injury, Holt broke his foot during practice, only about three weeks before KU’s season opener.

All that work was going to have a shortened, delayed reward.

“I’ve never actually sat out a game,” Holt said, “except for one time my senior year.”

All indications are he approached it the right way. Holt was able to suit up and play sparingly against Nebraska just six weeks later. He then played extensively against Texas A&M last week, recording eight tackles and a sack.

“I think he’s pretty close to getting over the hump,” KU coach Mark Mangino said. “Considering the circumstances and being put in there as a starter not long after coming off an injury, not having practiced for a long period of time – I thought he did a commendable job.”

Holt cited mistakes he needed to shore up and said once this season is over, he’ll head back to the weight room and try to gain 10 more pounds.

“That way, I can plug up some holes and won’t get blown up most of the time and have to shoot people’s knees out,” Holt quipped. “I’m reaching for a goal of about 230, 235.”

Holt, along with fellow sophomores Mike Rivera and Joe Mortensen, could be the future of the linebacker fleet, along with freshmen Arist Wright and Maxwell Onyegbule.

That suits Mallory, KU’s first-year assistant coach at the position, just fine. And it’s not every day a linebackers coach can say that about a former 195-pound safety.

“I’m real pleased with his progress,” Mallory said. “He obviously still needs to keep coming. But he’s young, and he plays hard. I really like his enthusiasm for the game – he’s a fun guy to coach.”