Hall of Fame
One of the top defensive linemen ever to play for the Tigers, Andrew Hollingsworth '01 earned consensus All-America first team honors as a senior. He was inducted into the Towson Hall of Fame in 2012.
Named as the Patriot League Player of the Year as a senior, he was named as a first team All-Patriot League selection as a junior and senior. He was also honored as the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year in 2000.
A native of Annandale, Virginia, and a graduate of Annandale High School, he finished his career as the Patriot League’s all-time leader with 43 quarterback sacks. As a senior, he led NCAA Division FCS with 18 sacks, establishing a Patriot League record and a Towson University mark.
In 2000, he averaged 1.89 sacks per game to lead the nation and set a NCAA FCS (formerly I-AA) record that still stands.
A very good student who earned GTE District 2 All-Academic honors, he had 64 tackles and a team-leading ten sacks in his sophomore season. He was named as the Patriot League’s Defensive Player of the Week after making nine tackles with four sacks in a win over Drake.
As a junior in 1999, he made 48 tackles and had ten sacks, fourth in the Patriot League. A first team All-Patriot League honoree, he led the Tigers to a 7-4 overall record and a third place finish in the league. He was also named third team All-America.
Prior to his senior year, Hollingsworth was named as a pre-season All-America first team selection by The Sports Network, and he was also honored as the Patriot League Pre-Season Defensive Player of the Year.
In 2000, the 6-2, 230-pound Hollingsworth had a dominant year. Despite missing the final two games of the season with a severely sprained ankle, he made 42 tackles and led the nation with 18 sacks. He had four sacks against Morgan State and three against Lehigh and Monmouth. He also recorded a safety in a win over Lafayette. By averaging 1.89 sacks per game, he led NCAA FCS in sacks per game.
Hollingsworth was selected as the Patriot League Player of the Year as well as the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year. He was also a consensus first team All-America selection.
He finished his career with 179 tackles and 43 sacks, which is still the Towson career record.
In 2011, he was selected to the Patriot League’s 25th anniversary all-star team. He resides in Ridge, New York, with his wife, Karen, and their two children. His wife, Karen, is a Towson graduate and a former soccer player for the Tigers.
