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Living November 5, 2019

This high school football captain was born deaf, and is true leader on field

WATCH: Deaf high school football captain is true leader on field

Devin Holmes, a 17-year-old football captain who was born deaf, dominates on the field at Bloomfield High School in Michigan and is headed to play the sport collegiately next year.

Communication on the football field, as any sport, is key and Holmes' teammates on the varsity football squad have learned American Sign Language to help the defensive starter. Holmes also communicates with his coaches, including Dan Loria, through an interpreter.

"He's extremely honest, sincere, hardworking, extremely passionate about football, about his team and about his school," Loria told "Good Morning America" of the high school senior. "I didn't name him captain because he's deaf. I named him captain because the kids rally around him like nothing I've ever seen before."

PHOTO: Devin Holmes, a 17-year-old football captain who was born deaf, dominates on the field at Bloomfield High School in Michigan and is headed to play the sport collegiately next year.
Gail Holmes
Devin Holmes, a 17-year-old football captain who was born deaf, dominates on the field at Bloomfield High School in Michigan and is headed to play the sport collegiately next year.
(MORE: We love this coach giving an inspirational pep talk to his team in sign language)

Holmes told "GMA" that he appreciates his teammates who have shown him a lot of support throughout the season.

"They have chosen to learn ASL to better communicate with me," he said. "My teammates also created gestures to give me better focus during practice and while playing the game."

PHOTO: Devin Holmes communicates with his coaches, including head coach Dan Loria, through an interpreter.
Gail Holmes
Devin Holmes communicates with his coaches, including head coach Dan Loria, through an interpreter.

"I want to give them positive motivation," he added. "...I teach them that we make mistakes sometimes, but we keep going and never give up on our team."

PHOTO: Devin Holmes, a 17-year-old football captain who was born deaf, dominates on the field at Bloomfield High School in Michigan and is headed to play the sport collegiately next year.
Gail Holmes
Devin Holmes, a 17-year-old football captain who was born deaf, dominates on the field at Bloomfield High School in Michigan and is headed to play the sport collegiately next year.
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Holmes, who stands 6-feet-tall and weighs 285 pounds, has played football since he was 12 years old. This is his second year as a starter on the defensive line.

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Devin's mother, Gail Holmes, said the sport became a passion and is excited to watch him continue playing at Gallaudet University, a school for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, in Washington D.C. next year.

PHOTO: Bloomfield Hills defensive lineman Devin Holmes, center, who is deaf, strikes a pose with teammates during practice on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, at Bloomfield Hills High School.
Kirthmon F. Dozier/Detroit Free Press via Imagn Content Services, LLC
Bloomfield Hills defensive lineman Devin Holmes, center, who is deaf, strikes a pose with teammates during practice on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, at Bloomfield Hills High School.

"It's a wonderful feeling and an honor for him as well," Gail Holmes told "GMA." "He's such a hard worker and he's determined to fight any challenges."

PHOTO: Al Kettinger, interpreter for Bloomfield Hills defensive lineman Devin Holmes, signs a play during practice on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, at Bloomfield Hills High School.
Kirthmon F. Dozier/Detroit Free Press via Imagn Content Services, LLC
Al Kettinger, interpreter for Bloomfield Hills defensive lineman Devin Holmes, signs a play during practice on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, at Bloomfield Hills High School.

Devin Holmes said he's anxious to "make his mark" with his new team at Gallaudet, where he will major in education and minor in coaching.

After graduation he hopes to become a football coach.

PHOTO: Bloomfield Hills' Dean Bolton, Santhosh Ramachandran and Tasnner Slazinski sign with Bloomfield Hills defensive lineman Devin Holmes, right, who is deaf, during practice on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, at Bloomfield Hills High School.
Kirthmon F. Dozier/Detroit Free Press via Imagn Content Services, LLC
Bloomfield Hills' Dean Bolton, Santhosh Ramachandran and Tasnner Slazinski sign with Bloomfield Hills defensive lineman Devin Holmes, right, who is deaf, during practice on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, at Bloomfield Hills High School.