LEHI — In case you were wondering what type of player BYU's latest football commitment Dallin Holker is, just take a look at his stats from his junior season. In 12 games playing for pass-happy Lehi, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound tight end prospect hauled in 105 passes for 1,295 yard and 10 touchdowns.
He did as much playing more like a big-slot receiver than a true hand-on-the-ground tight end, which could be a good thing for his future prospects.
"He's going to have to learn all that other stuff because he's not a prototypical tight end right now," said Lehi coach Ed Larson, who spent some time coaching at BYU early on during his coaching career. "He's more like a wide receiver right now. But he's big, he's fast and he can really stretch the field and create good mismatches."
For Holker, he grew up watching and wanting to play like Dennis Pitta, someone he sort of emulates out of high school. Pitta walked on to BYU's program as a bit of a skinny and undersized prospect, before putting on good weight and eventually finishing his career as one of the Cougar greats at the tight end position.
Larson likened Holker's natural skillset to that of former BYU tight ends Chris Smith and Byron Rex.
"Can he develop into a blocker and true tight-end type? Sure, but right now I see him as more of pass-catcher," Larson said. "But he's a hard-worker and someone committed to getting better. I think he's going to do great at BYU and in that system they're running now."
As for the type of person BYU has recruited, Larson described Holker as a "bit of a quiet and unassuming type of kid. He's a player who rarely talks back, but just nods his head to what you tell him and then goes about his business. He's really been a pleasure for me to coach and I'm excited for him and the opportunity he now has at BYU."
Holker committed to BYU a few months after being offered a scholarship back in January. His BYU offer followed up offers from Southern Utah and Utah State, and although other offers seemed likely, he rested on BYU simply due to it being the program he's always wanted to play for.
"I went to one of their spring practices and it just felt like home there, so I just committed," Holker said. "My whole family is BYU fans, so I grew up rooting for them."
Holker plans to serve a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before enrolling at BYU.
Email: bgurney@desnews.com
Twitter: @BrandonCGurney