DURHAM — Blair Holliday will make his first trip back to Durham this weekend to watch Duke play N.C. Central.

“It’s pretty awesome,” fellow wide receiver Jamison Crowder said. “It shows how much he has recovered, and I can’t wait to see him.”

Holliday was critically injured in a July 4 jet ski accident when he and Crowder collided on Lake Tillery. While Crowder was able to walk away without any serious injuries, Holliday was pulled unconscious from the water and airlifted to the UNC Trauma Center. He remained there until Aug. 6 when he transferred to the Shepherd Center, an Atlanta rehabilitation hospital specializing in medical treatment, research and rehabilitation for people with spinal cord and brain injuries. On Sept. 1, he switched from impatient to outpatient therapy and has regained the ability to walk and talk.

Crowder last saw Holliday while he was still in Chapel Hill. They last spoke after Duke’s Sept. 1 win over Florida International.

“He sounds real, he sounded pretty good. It was just amazing to see how well he has recovered. He was talking normal.”

Holliday has received several visitors while in Atlanta, including Duke coach David Cutcliffe and N.C. State coach Tom O’Brien when the Wolfpack were in town to play Tennessee. Now, it’s his turn to be the visitor.

“That’s awesome, I’m excited for that,” quarterback Sean Renfree said when he heard Holliday was coming. “We haven’t seen him in so long, and I know guys have been dying to see him, so I can’t wait to see that.”