Back when BYU tight end Dallin Holker was leaving Provo to serve his church mission, Zach Wilson sent a text message wishing him luck. Holker responded and said he was looking forward to catching passes from Wilson when the tight end returned in two years.
But Wilson shot back a text that said they would be gone by then.
Sure enough, Wilson was correct and the former BYU quarterback star was selected as the No. 2 overall pick by the New York Jets in the 2021 NFL draft.
“That shows the confidence that he had in himself,” Holker said Thursday.
The tight end, meanwhile, has plenty of confidence in his own abilities — even if it has been nearly three years since Holker was in a game.
The 6-foot-5 Holker started at BYU back in 2018, when he recorded 235 yards and a touchdown on 19 receptions. Although Holker hasn’t played in a while, the Lehi product said he’s been able to add experience.
“When I came in, I was 18 years old,” Holker said. “I didn’t really know a lot of things or even about football, but I feel like [in] that time away, I was able to mature a lot. … I think that’s helped me out a ton and now, going into my sophomore season I’m 21. It’s a big difference.”
Even without having recent game experience, Holker said he’s improved physically. The 21-year-old said he’s taller and bigger compared to when he left after his freshman season. He can also still run and run routes, Holker added.
Holker wasn’t around for BYU’s historic season, or Wilson’s success, but his parents kept the Lehi product up to date on all the news. The Cougars finished the season with a 11-1 record and a Top-25 national ranking, and Wilson became BYU’s highest-drafted player ever. The quarterback from Draper is now the heir apparent in New York, where the Jets have been looking for a franchise quarterback for far too long.
“It was pretty crazy,” Holker said. “I remember my parents calling me and telling me ‘he’s projected to go Top 10’ and then it was Top 2. It was super cool and I’m super happy for him.”
Holker, who rejoined the Cougars at the start of the year, has been more than eager to get back into a game. While Wilson will no longer be the quarterback to throw to him, Holker also came in the year two of the three frontrunners in the quarterback competition — Jaren Hall and Baylor Romney — did.
“I was with the other quarterbacks, too, my first year — I came in with some of them,” Holker said. “So, we’re always doing workouts together and we’re always together. It’s a family here, so it’s not really like anybody’s ever left out. We’re all super close to the group and it’s fun to be around them.”
Although returned missionaries tend to redshirt their first season back at BYU, Holker isn’t looking at that right now. Instead, he’s expected to be part of the Cougars’ depth at tight end this fall. Add in Masen Wake and Carter Wheat, as well as some other young players, and the tight ends have a shot to play a big role on the Cougars’ offense.
And Holker is ready for whatever his role in the group may be.
“Whatever it really takes for the team to win and to be the best that we can be is what I’ll try to do,” Holker said.
