PROVO — Because his father played seven years in the National Football League, Doug Jolley naturally grew up wanting to be a professional athlete. However, fulfilling that dream seemed unlikely for the 6-foot-3, 250-pound tight end as he entered his senior season at BYU last fall.
Jolley wasn't necessarily considered the best tight end on his own team, and he had caught only 20 passes in his career. Yes, the NFL seemed out of reach.
But that all changed during his final campaign, which included a break-out game at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Oct. 20, when Jolley caught 10 passes for 177 yards and three touchdowns against Air Force. "Up until that game, I didn't feel like I was used like I should have been," Jolley said. "It was the day I was waiting for."
By the time the season was over, he had finished second on the team in catches (32), receiving yards (492) and touchdown receptions (seven). He followed that up with solid performances in the East-West Shine Game and the NFL combines. Jolley's stock has soared, which sets up another day he's been waiting for — Saturday's NFL draft.
Most draft experts project Jolley being selected somewhere between the second round and the fourth round. "Jolley shows exceptional receiving skills, brings top-drawer athleticism to the tight-end spot and is a hard-working, capable blocker," said ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. "He's perfect for the West Coast offense, so don't be surprised if he ends up being taken in the third or fourth round."
The St. George native also possesses versatility that NFL teams covet. In addition to his talent as a tight end, he can deep snap as well.
"He'll be a big surprise (in the NFL)," said BYU coach Gary Crowton.
Brian Mitchell, BYU's cornerbacks coach, and the school's liasion with the NFL, said Jolley is "probably the sleeper of the whole draft. He had a phenomenal senior year. He brings a number of different facets to the table — he can deep snap, catch the football and block. He has outstanding athletic abilities."
Jolley, who graduated from BYU with a degree in economics in December, plans to hold a little draft party at his residence in Provo Saturday. No matter what happens, it will be different from the experience his dad, Gordon Jolley, had on his draft day. But Doug can only hope to have the type of NFL longevity his dad had.
Gordon, an offensive lineman, played collegiately at the University of Utah. He spent his draft day skiing in Park City. "We didn't have ESPN and Mel Kiper back then," he explained. "When I got home I got the message that I had been drafted by the Lions. I was taken in the 17th round, which was the last round of the draft at that time."
He played five years for the Detroit Lions and two more with the then-expansion Seattle Seahawks. Now that his son is about to be drafted, Gordon has been studying what Kiper and other so-called gurus have been saying about Doug.
"I think my dad is more excited about the draft than I am," Doug said.
Still, Doug is eager to share these moments with his dad, who has inspired him and encouraged him over the years. "He's been there every step of the way," he said. "Everything I'm going through, he's been through. Throughout my life, he's had faith in me. My dad's always been my biggest supporter. He has confidence in me and that gives me confidence in myself."
Jolley was a star quarterback at Dixie High and he opted to walk-on as a QB at BYU. In 1998, Cougar coaches decided to switch him to tight end. He was concerned about the change.
"The first person I called was my dad," Jolley said. "We talked about it, and he said if I wasn't going to have a realistic shot at playing quarterback, then going to tight end would be a good idea. He said, 'You will make yourself a heckuva tight end.' "
At that position, Doug Jolley earned a scholarship — and now he's on the verge of becoming an NFL draft pick.
Father knows best, indeed.
E-mail: jeffc@desnews.com