Kansas linebacker James Holt (12) throws Kansas State QB Josh Freeman for a loss in this file photo from Nov. 1.

Question: How do you know you’ve done something unusually tough and physically impressive?

Answer: When Joe Mortensen, Kansas University’s hard-talkin’, head-shavin’, tattoo-wearin’ senior linebacker, takes notice.

For instance, in the middle of a running drill during summer workouts, Mortensen watched fellow linebacker James Holt push himself so hard that he passed out mid-run. Not almost passed out, or kind of passed out. Literally passed out.

This was not a scene easily forgotten by Mortensen.

“(He was) passed out and almost on all fours,” said Mortensen, in awe while recounting the story recently. “He’ll just push his body to the limit.”

Which is nice, because as Kansas prepares for a two-game stretch in which it will need to beat No. 4 Texas and No. 12 Missouri to stay alive in the race for the Big 12 North title, Holt’s willingness to push his limits likely will be key in the Jayhawks’ chances for survival.

Usually the most low-profile member of Kansas’ highly touted linebacking corps, Holt’s play over the past two weeks has been a high point for a defensive unit in desperate need of a spark. Against Kansas State two weeks ago, Holt finished with five tackles (three for loss), two sacks and two forced fumbles – one of which he recovered.

The following week, in a loss to Nebraska, he recorded his first career interception, forced another fumble and added nine tackles and a sack.

“One thing that sets him apart from a lot of linebackers is his intensity,” Kansas coach Mark Mangino said, “his ability to go hard every snap and find the ball, just relentlessly try to track down the football.”

Originally recruited to play safety, Holt eventually made the transition to linebacker, a move that has paid significant dividends for the Jayhawks. He was one of just three true freshmen to see playing time for the Jayhawks in 2005 and earned All-Big 12 honorable-mention honors as a junior last season.

Recently, however, he has been used regularly as a quasi-defensive end, a move Kansas defensive coordinator Clint Bowen describes as a way to put one of the team’s best blitzers in position to get to the quarterback.

And so far, the Altus, Okla., native hasn’t had much trouble doing so.

Since the Kansas State game, Holt, the nation’s leader in fumbles forced with six, has reached the quarterback a team-high three times, earning the praise of Mangino and helping to provide a level of stability to the team’s defensive front.

“It’s a lot of fun,” said Holt of the occasional shift in duties. “It’s not really much different from blitzing off the edge, you just have your hand down, and you take the outside gap. So it’s not really hard to adapt to.”

Saturday, the Kansas seniors’ final game at Memorial Stadium, Holt and the Jayhawks will look to help Kansas throw a wrench into Texas’ national-title hopes and piece together a mistake-free defensive performance – a goal made more likely with Holt’s recent emergence as the team’s most dangerous defensive weapon.

“Any time you hope to have a good defense, you have to have playmakers on your defense,” junior safety Darrell Stuckey said. “And he’s very much one of our playmakers.”