Even when he was covered, Dallin Holker wasn’t going to be stopped.
The Colorado State tight end ran toward the goal line as Rams quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi scanned the field. CSU was trailing 43-17 against Washington State with just over six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, but the Rams still wanted to score as much as possible.
Fowler-Nicolosi threw about 20 yards downfield toward the right side of the end zone. Holker backed up, and after the ball floated over the hand of a defender, he extended a hand out to haul the pass in. As he gained control with both hands, he maintained his focus and dragged both feet in bounds.
Holker could be a valuable addition to an NFL team.
“The highlight of my game is versatility, just being able to do anything,” Holker said at the NFL Combine. “Go out and run routes, come in and block, be in the backfield or the slot, a little bit of everywhere.”
Dallin Holker’s Stats And Highlights
In his lone season at Colorado State, Holker led all FBS tight ends during the regular season with 767 yards and 64 catches to go with six touchdowns. His yardage total was the second-most by a Rams tight end and he was third in receptions.
That led to him earning second-team All-American accolades, as he was a HERO Sports Group of Five All-American first-teamer.
“I love it so much. I loved my time at Colorado State,” Holker said. “I loved the coaches and my teammates there. I’m excited to be here (at the combine) and glad to be representing CSU.”
Holker, who’s from Lehi, Utah, played for BYU after being a rated three-star prospect out of high school.
After starting some games as a freshman, he caught 42 passes for 521 yards and three touchdowns in 2018, 2021, and 2022 at BYU. In 2019 and 2020, he was on a mission in Vina del Mar, Chile.
Holker transferred to CSU in hopes of earning more chances to perform on the field. And he certainly did that in 2023.
“My coaching staff, they put me in opportunities to succeed and they trusted me,” Holker said. “I thought it was awesome that they were able to put that trust in me and I was able to go out there and play.”
Dallin Holker Draft Projection
I am projecting Holker to be selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. I could see a team like the New England Patriots or the Los Angeles Chargers making sense.
There are a few elite prospects at the tight end position this year like Georgia’s Brock Bowers, but this isn’t necessarily a deep group at the position this year. Which could mean Holker ends up being highly ranked on some draft boards.
“I’m gonna make plays when I need to make plays and when I’m in situations where I need to make plays,” Holker said. “I love playing the game, and I love winning.”
What Was Dallin Holker’s 40 Time?
Holker had the 11th-best time in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine among tight ends at 4.78 seconds. But he stood out in several other ways.
The versatility of the 6-foot-3, 241-pound prospect stood out as he was top 10 among tight ends in every measurable drill. He was second in the 20-yard shuttle (4.21 seconds) and three-cone drill (6.83 seconds). He was also fourth in the broad jump (10 feet, 2 inches) and tied for eighth in the vertical (32.5 inches).
He also became popular on social media when he snagged a pass with one hand while holding a ball in his other during positional drills at the combine.
“I put a lot of effort into trying to be the best that I can,” Holker said. “… In those big moments, I worked so hard that they are just like another play.”
Dallin Holker’s NFL Comparison And Draft Profile
I believe Holker’s style of play is comparable to Dallas Goedert, as both are well-balanced players. Holker said he’s also studied Rob Gronkowski and Travis Kelce and hopes to emulate them as much as possible.
Similar to those NFL players, Holker is hard to tackle and often doesn’t go down after initial contact. And for his frame, he has some decent agility when he’s in the open field. He was even sometimes used on screens and as a wildcat quarterback, which shows how much CSU trusted him to gain yards when the ball was in his hands.
His size would make it difficult for many defensive backs to cover him. He’s also smart, as he easily can find open windows within defensive coverages.
He has excellent hands as well. He made several catches along the sideline and over the shoulder at CSU, and he’s obviously capable of one-handed receptions.
Holker is a standout playmaker and could be a great addition for an NFL team in the middle rounds of the draft.
