Boise State needed just a few yards to sustain its drive. So as the Broncos have done countless times over the past few years, they turned to George Holani.
Boise State was trailing at Washington 35-19 midway through the third quarter and faced third-and-2. Holani stood behind quarterback Taylen Green in the pistol formation, and took a handoff while going to his right at the start of the play.
But then he immediately spotted a running lane to the left and cut that way. He crossed the line to gain with ease. And when a Washington defender tried taking him down, Holani stiff-armed him to gain even more yards for good measure.
Holani could be a dependable playmaker in the NFL as well. But he’s willing to take on whatever responsibilities he’s tasked with at the next level.
“For me, it’s being able to know my role,” Holani said at the NFL Combine. “Whatever that is, whether it’s special teams, going out there and blocking my tail off, running down on kickoff, blocking on punt return. Whatever that is, being able to own that role and hopefully if I can get one carry, two carries, whatever it is, take advantage of every opportunity, every carry.”
George Holani Draft Projection
I project Holani will be selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft. Teams like the Patriots or the Cowboys would be good fits.
Holani might’ve been a higher draft pick if injuries hadn’t gotten in the way of his trajectory his final season at Boise State. But his collegiate accomplishments and overall athleticism should be enticing for NFL teams.
Early Day 3 for a running back of Holani’s caliber isn’t out of the realm of possibility.
“Everything is earned, it’s never given,” he said. “I’ve got to go out there and work my tail off every day.”
What Was George Holani’s 40 Time?
Holani ran the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine in 4.52 seconds, which was good for 11th among running backs.
But at 5-foot-10, 208 pounds, Holani was in the top six in every other measurable drill. He was third in the vertical jump (39 inches) and broad jump (10 feet, 7 inches), fourth in the bench press (24 reps), and sixth in the three-cone drill (7.32 seconds) and the 20-yard shuttle (4.33 seconds).
“You only get this opportunity once in a lifetime,” Holani said at the combine. “I’m just soaking everything in and just enjoying everything right now.”
George Holani’s Stats And Highlights
Holani is fifth all time in Boise State’s record books – which is loaded with former NFL players – with 3,596 yards on the ground.
However, Holani was a bit of an afterthought in 2023 after dealing with injuries and fellow Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty was the HERO Sports G5 Offensive Player of the Year.
But Holani still has a track record of success. The former Mountain West Freshman of the Year was third in the conference with 1,157 rushing yards, averaging 5.2 yards per attempt, and was tied for fifth with 10 touchdowns in 2022.
Holani was also on the all-conference second team in 2019, totaling 1,014 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.
“It helped in many ways, going to Boise State, it helped me grow physically, mentally, and spiritually as a player,” Holani said. “Just going in there, especially from Cali, I go to Boise and everything is different. I’m away from family. I’m by myself. I have to make the right decisions, and I think Boise helped instill that blue-collar mentality.”
George Holani’s NFL Comparison And Draft Profile
I project Holani’s playing style in the NFL will be similar to Le’Veon Bell. Holani said he tries to emulate his game after Bell, and that makes sense after watching his tape.
Holani has superb vision, balance, and patience at the line. He makes extremely good choices when deciding which running lane to hit.
He truly is an all-purpose back. He catches passes out of the backfield and embraces physicality. He also takes pride in his pass blocking, and that is evident as well.
Though he’s not the fastest running back, his juke move makes him tough to tackle and he brings plenty of other skills to the table. His injury history might also be a concern, but that shouldn’t prevent teams from drafting him.
“If I’m out there, I’m a game-changer,” Holani said. “I can make plays. I can go out there, run dudes over, make dudes miss, and score touchdowns.”
