East T-birds receiver snares MaxPreps award as Alaska football player of the year

Jordan Holland, who capped his high school football career by helping the East Thunderbirds to an undefeated season, has been named the MaxPreps football player of the year for Alaska. The announcement was made Wednesday.

As a wide receiver and defensive back, Holland was a big contributor in both positions.

His talents were on full display in East’s 41-0 romp over Bartlett in the Anchorage School District championship game, which came in a season with no statewide playoffs because of COVID-19. He intercepted a pass in the first quarter and hauled in a 69-yard touchdown catch on the ensuing possession.

Holland, who standing 5-foot-11 and weighs 160, finished the game with two touchdowns and 99 yards on five catches.

For the season, he caught 27 passes for 590 yards and nine touchdowns on offense and racked up 20 tackles on defense in six games. The T-birds won one game by forfeit to finish with a 7-0 record.

In three seasons with Holland on the varsity team, the T-birds compiled a 23-3 and won a state championship in 2018. Besides his ability to play offense and defense, he brought a good attitude and a good work ethic to the team, East coach Jeff Trotter said.

“One of the hardest workers we’ve had at East, and (a) very good leader,” Trotter said by text. “Willing to do anything so the team can be successful.”

MaxPreps will release its All-America Team later this month. Also expected to be announced soon is Alaska’s Gatorade Player of the Year.