Orange Beach senior John Wallace Holladay announced his commitment to the Troy Trojans football program Monday, April 3.

“I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to continue my academic and athletic career at Troy University,” he wrote on Instagram. “I am grateful to my savior, Jesus Christ, and to my family, friends, and coaches who have supported me.”

Holladay marks the third 2022 Mako football team member to land with Division I programs, joining Chris Pearson (Houston) and Cash Turner (South Alabama). The trio helped Orange Beach finish 7-3 overall, record the school’s first spot in the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s state rankings and host the program’s second home playoff game in a row.

The three Mako athletes also represented their squad at the inaugural Gulf Coast Media Day before the 2022 season.

On the Troy campus, Holladay — listed as a 6’ 2”, 185-pound athlete who took reps at quarterback, receiver and safety — is set to join forces with a pair of former Baldwin County Tigers in receiver Ky McNulty, a Feb. 1 signee, and McKenzie Bryant, the program’s first female student assistant.

The two local athletes will likely play all their years under head coach Jon Sumrall, who was signed to a contract extension through 2026 last Monday, March 27. The Trojans went 12-2 overall with a win over UTEP in the Cure Bowl after they won the Sun Belt Championship game over Coastal Carolina with a 7-1 conference record in his first season at the helm.

In Holladay’s first and only season at Orange Beach High School, he was recognized by his team as the Outstanding Defensive Performer, won the Mako Award and Team Captain Award and was also named an Outstanding Senior Scholar.