Holliday, a 5-foot-5 running back, scored first on a 67-yard pass from Ryan Perrilloux, a Jackson State senior quarterback, with 10:46 left in the third quarter. Holliday’s second trip to the end zone came about 5 minutes later on a 2-yard run.

Holliday, who is known more for his speed than his size, totaled 209 all-purpose yards, including 71 on four punt returns, to earn offensive player of the game honors.

“I knew that no one could catch me once I get a step off,” Holliday said.

The NFL hopeful, who has so far foregone what looks to be a lucrative professional track career, said he wants “to give this football thing a go” before dedicating himself full time to track.

After a scoreless first quarter, UTEP cornerback Cornelius Brown gave Texas a 10-0 lead with a 35-yard touchdown return off a fumble recovery with about 9:40 left in the first half.

“I wanted to give the fans something to cheer about before this game and I did,” Brown said Brown, selected the game’s most valuable player. “It rolled right back to me and I saw green and took off.”

Perrilloux, who shared his duties under center with quarterbacks from Troy and Duke, threw for 136 yards in the win.

The Nation’s starting quarterback, Tennessee’s Jonathan Crompton, completed 9 of 20 passes for 102 yards.

The fourth annual all-star game drew 26,041 fans.

Kenny Hansmire, the game’s CEO, said he expected a larger crowd—about 42,000 people showed up in 2009—and would not look at moving the game to San Antonio or Dallas.