Tag: George Holani

Unpacking Future Packers: No. 89, Boise State RB George Holani

Up next in the Unpacking Future Packers draft preview series is Boise State running back George Holani.

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2024 NFL draft.

With AJ Dillon set to hit the open market and Aaron Jones entering the final year of his contract, the Green Bay Packers will need to add a running back or two in the 2024 NFL Draft.

A player that the Packers could target on Day 3 of the upcoming draft is George Holani. The Boise State running back checks in at No. 89 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.

Holani, a four-star recruit out of California, burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2019, rushing for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns. Holani also added 26 receptions for 206 yards and three touchdowns. All those numbers helped him earn Mountain West Freshman of the Year.

In 2021, Holani rushed for 569 yards and one touchdown. The following season, he rushed for 1,157 yards and 10 touchdowns. The California native added three receiving touchdowns to his stat line.

This past season, Holani rushed for 748 yards and seven touchdowns in eight games, while sharing backfield duties with Ashton Jeanty.

“Holani was injured in the season opener at Washington, and wasn’t able to start playing until the week eight matchup against Wyoming,” Brady Frederick, a sports anchor at KTVB, said. “After that, he put together a strong back half of the season and led the Broncos with 191 total yards in a key game against Utah State. He also had a great showing in BSU’s loss at the LA Bowl. Considering what he did in essentially half a season, I would have expected a fully healthy Holani to rush for 1000 for a third time this year.”

Before diving into what makes Holani special on the football field, let’s talk about his leadership within the locker room. Jeanty, who finished this past season with 1,347 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, has praised Holani for helping him grow his game. 

“Despite not being a team captain, Holani was consistently one of the key leaders on the team,” Frederick said. “He’s a very humble player, and is very ‘about his business’ whenever we get him in a media availability session, but he was consistently pointed to as one of the best teammates on the roster. Jeanty, who very well might be one of the best running backs in college football next season told us George took him under his wing when he got to Boise, and played a huge role in his development from high school to college – and that continued from preseason, to while Holani was sidelined with injury, to when he got back and they were essentially competing with each other for touches.”

Holani is a compact running back and keeps his legs pumping through contact. During his monster season in 2022, Holani forced 70 missed tackles and racked up 758 yards after contact. While not a burner by any means, Holani shows good burst to quickly clear holes. He trusts his eyes and once he sees the hole he plants his foot and goes. 

“He has a great mix of power, breakaway speed, and jukes to hurt opposing teams in a lot of ways,” Frederick said. “He also is great at taking care of the ball, he only lost four fumbles in his BSU career.”

Holani showcased soft hands out of the backfield and finished his career with 88 receptions for 777 yards and eight touchdowns. He’s a reliable screen target and finished his career with four career drops on 106 targets. He looks for work in pass protection and is a physical presence. 

“I would say Holani’s greatest strength is his versatility,” Frederick said. “Holani is a great pass catcher and is especially dangerous in the screen game. While he’s great in the power run, he really excels in open space, and has a great ability to make people miss.”

Fit with the Packers

How can the Packers extend the career of Jones? By adding young weapons to help alleviate the pressure and workload for the dynamic back who is getting ready to tee off on the back nine of his career.

Although Holani has missed time in his career with injuries, he’s shown that he can be a dynamic playmaker when healthy. Adding a player late on Day 3 with his toughness, burst and reliability in the passing game would be a great addition to any running back room.

‘He’s a low-risk/high-reward prospect,” Frederick said. “I think with concerns about his injuries he’s going to fall later than he would if healthy, but he’s the kind of guy who will give your team 100 percent in every play, practice, and meeting, and will find a way to make an impact. Although Boise State ran a very conservative return game, it felt like they called for a fair catch 90 percent of the time, I think at his floor Holani could prove to be a very effective punt returner because of his ability to make things happen in space, and I think with development from an NFL training staff could prove to be a very effective player.”

UNLV Rebels Fell to Boise State 44-20 in Mountain West Championship

The UNLV Rebels hosted the Boise State Broncos in the Mountain West Conference Championship

The UNLV Rebels hosted the Boise State Broncos in the Mountain West Conference Championship. There were 31,473 fans in attendance, but that did not matter to the Broncos as they beat the Rebels 44-20.

The early part of the game was a back-and-forth, and both teams scored 14 points in the first quarter. UNLV’s touchdowns came on a five-yard rush from Vincent Davis Jr. and then a thrilling 47-yard interception return by linebacker Fred Thompkins to even things up.

However, Boise State converted two Rebel turnovers into 10 points en route to taking a 31-17 halftime lead, limiting the hosts to three points after the break, and never looking back after that, outscoring UNLV 13-3 in the second half.

Unable to Stop the Run

The Rebels’ run defense could not stop the Broncos rushing attack, as they rushed for 301 yards. Ashton Jeanty led Boise State with 153 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown. George Holani added 76 yards, along with quarterback Taylen Green rushing for 90 yards and two touchdowns. One of Green’s touchdowns was a 70-yard run. It is hard to win games, giving up 301 rushing yards and 5.9 yards per carry.

Turnovers

Rebels quarterback Jayden Maiava had a tough day at the office, turning the ball over three times (two interceptions and a loss fumble). He passed for 166 yards but threw no touchdowns.

Unable to Run the Ball

It was a tough day for the Rebels as the Broncos took away their rushing attack. UNLV rushed for 81 yards on 28 rush attempts, which is suitable for 2.9 yards per carry. Vincent Davis Jr. led the team in rushing with 55 yards and a touchdown.

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Ultimately, the Broncos had an old-school football mentality: run the ball and stop the run, and they executed it well. They also had efficient quarterback play, while Green only threw 15 times; he did complete 12 of those attempts. Green also threw two touchdown passes.

Mountain West Football: First Look at 2024 NFL Draft Prospects

George Holani, Jack Browning, and Cole Godbout headline the group of Mountain West football stars who could be NFL Draft picks next year.

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Mountain West Football: First Look At 2024 NFL Draft Prospects

Next year’s class of NFL prospects from the Mountain West is an interesting mix of stars and under-the-radar breakout candidates.

Contact/Follow @MattK_FS & @MWCwire

Who could be next April’s top players?

Air Force

As usual, it’s always tough to determine which cadets are most likely to be on the NFL’s radar, but the Falcons project to have a very stingy defense this fall and that could bode well for someone like Camby Goff. The defensive back from Reynoldsburg, Ohio has played all over the secondary, and often in the box, over the last two seasons and led Air Force in 2022 with three interceptions and nine passes defended while allowing just 42.9% of receiver targets to be caught. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, he’s definitely worth tuning in for.

In the mix: Trey Taylor, S; Everett Smalley, OT

Boise State

If the bounceback can last for another season, then it’s easy to think that NFL teams will be interested in running back George Holani. Though he had help in the offensive backfield throughout 2022, Holani led the Broncos with 1,157 rushing yards and 13 total touchdowns while contributing 24 receptions for 151 yards to the passing game, as well.

The most enticing statistic, though? According to Pro Football Focus, Holani had 15 more missed tackles forced (70) than any other Mountain West running back. As usual, the Broncos are likely to have a handful of prospects worth following, but he may be something else entirely.

In the mix: Cade Beresford, OT; Stefan Cobbs, WR; DJ Schramm, LB

Colorado State

The Rams didn’t have a great 2023 as a team, but Mohamed Kamara thrived under new defensive coordinator Freddie Banks. Among Mountain West defenders, the Newark native finished in a tie for fourth with 8.5 sacks and third with 16.5 tackles for loss while tallying 35 quarterback hurries. Now that he has a full year within Banks’ system under his belt, he should be in the conversation as the conference’s most disruptive player next season.

In the mix: Chigozie Anusiem, CB; Tory Horton, WR

Fresno State

The Bulldogs may not be quite as rife with prospects next year, but Levelle Bailey is an underrated defender who figures to anchor a veteran linebacker unit. Over the past two seasons, he’s racked up 144 total tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, and 13 passes defended; in 2022, Pro Football Focus credited him with 48 stops, tied for the second-most among all Mountain West players.

In the mix: Cam Lockridge, CB

Hawaii

The Warriors will have much more experience on hand in Timmy Chang‘s second year at the helm and, among their veteran group, Virdel Edwards II is someone who deserves more attention. After transferring in from Iowa State, he made a switch from safety to cornerback and became the top player, per PFF, in Hawaii’s secondary last year with a 71.4 overall grade. He tied for the team lead with three interceptions and broke up five passes while collecting 50 total tackles and, at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, has a blend of size and athleticism unlike many of his peers at the position throughout the Mountain West.

In the mix: Matthew Shipley, P/K; Cam Stone, CB; Solo Vaipulu, OL

Nevada

It might seem lazy to select a specialist here, but Brandon Talton is no ordinary kicker. He announced himself back in 2019 by crushing a game-winning 56-yard field goal in the Wolf Pack’s season opener against Purdue, then connected on his first 13 field goal tries and then, four years later, set the Mountain West record for career field goals made with a 80% success rate. Oh, and did we mention that includes making 20-of-31 of field goals from 40-plus yards? Nevada hasn’t been shy about letting him use his cannon leg to put points on the board over the years.

In the mix: Dalevon Campbell, WR

New Mexico

One of the few mainstays on a Lobos defense that’s seen plenty of upheaval over the past two off-seasons, Donte Martin is back to make another argument that he’ll belong in the NFL this time next year. Since breaking into the starting lineup as a redshirt freshman in 2019, Martin has defended 27 passes and, according to Pro Football Focus, he had his best season yet in 2022 with an overall grade of 74.0. If UNM has a resurgence this fall, Martin is likely to be a big reason why.

In the mix: Dylan Hopkins, QB; Aaron Rodriguez, P

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Las Vegas Bowl: Boise State vs. Washington odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Las Vegas Bowl betting odds between the Boise State Broncos and the Washington Huskies, with betting picks, tips and bets.

The Boise State Broncos (12-1) and Washington Huskies (7-5) square off at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas at 7:30 p.m. ET. We analyze the Boise State-Washington odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Boise State vs. Washington: Three things you need to know

1. Boise State ranks 38th in the nation with 441.5 total yards per game, and 35th in passing yards per contest (267.4). QB Hank Bachmeier (shoulder) is questionable to play, but backups Jaylon Henderson (four starts) and Chase Cord have proven to be more than capable when called upon.

2. Washington ranks 33rd in the nation against the run, allowing 152.2 yards per game. BSU freshman RB George Holani led the team with 979 yards and seven total touchdowns.

3. Boise State is 4-0 in its previous four appearances in the Las Vegas Bowl, including a 28-26 win over Washington back on Dec. 22, 2012.

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Boise State vs. Washington: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 5:50 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Boise State 29, Washington 24

Moneyline (ML)

BOISE STATE (+130) is a good bet in this game. The Broncos are 4-0 straight-up all time in the Las Vegas Bowl (formerly the Maaco Bowl) – all against Pac-12 opponents. The Broncos might be deeper than the Huskies at the skill positions as Holani, WR John Hightower and the trio of quarterbacks give Boise State tremendous talent across the board.

New to sports betting? Every $1 wagered on the Boise State ML will profit $1.30 if the Broncos win.

Against the Spread (ATS)

BOISE STATE (+3.5, -121) is a nice play with the points if you want a little bit of insurance, although the Broncos are a great play straight-up, too. The Broncos are 7-0 ATS in their past seven as an underdog, and 7-3 ATS in the past 10 bowl games while going 9-4 ATS in the past 13 neutral-site affairs. On the flip side, Washington is 1-4 ATS in the past five neutral-site games and 1-4 ATS in the past five bowl games.

Over/Under (O/U)

The OVER 49.5 (+105) is a good value at plus-money. The over is 5-2 in Boise State’s past seven bowl games. Plus, the Broncos are 5-2 in their past seven games as an underdog. The Over is 5-2 in the past seven for Washington against teams with a winning record.

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Boise State Clobbers Utah State, Ending Aggies’ Title Hopes

Aggies get embarrassed in home finale, lose division to Boise State

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Contact/Follow @SamMcConkie & @MWCwire

Dismal performance from entire Aggie team

Utah State didn’t bother showing up in their own stadium with the Mountain Division on the line. Boise State showed up and showed why they’re the class of the conference, though, by winning 56-21.

Boise State received the ball to start and promptly drove down the field in under two minutes, going up 7-0. On USU’s first possession, they promptly failed to gain offensive rhythm (again) and punted away to the Broncos. It would be the first of many failed drive attempts for this Utah State offense.

After the Aggie defense forced a punt from the Broncos on their next offensive series, Utah State put together a very nice drive using Jordan Love‘s arm. The Aggies capped off their first touchdown drive with a sick one-handed catch by TE Caleb Repp. It would be only one a few highlights for the Aggies.

Late in the first quarter, with the game tied 7-7, USU got the ball back with some critical momentum. Jordan Love then promptly threw the momentum away with a pass to the flat that was nabbed by Boise defender Jalen Walker for a costly pick six. Boise State never looked back after this (and USU needs to burn that play from its playbook).

Boise State went on to score on five straight offensive drives. Utah State’s defense could not tackle and could not get any stops on third down, a continuation of an alarming trend they have seen this season. There were numerous times on the night where the Broncos’ running backs would easily slip past USU’s defensive line and linebackers. Oftentimes, these gains would be for 7+ yards, ensuring Boise State would have manageable offensive situations all night long for their third-string QB Jaylon Henderson.

At halftime, USU was down 35-7. By the end of the third quarter, it was 56-14. Jordan Love had an average night, throwing for 229 yards on 21-of-36 passes with a touchdown and one interception. Gerold Bright performed well below expectations, rushing for 51 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries. Adding insult to injury, DJ Williams got two unsportsmanlike penalties in the game, getting disqualified from the game and weakening an already battered secondary.

On the opposing side, Boise RB George Holani had himself a terrific game, rushing for 178 yards and two touchdowns. Backup QB Jaylon Henderson played like a season starter with 187 yards and three touchdown passes with no picks. The Broncos have superior team depth all around and it showed in this game. Utah State couldn’t contain or stop either of these players and the game was never close after the first quarter.

By the end of the night, USU had managed to score 21 points, but most of those came in garbage time with the game well out of reach. QB Henry Colombi ran in the final score of the night for USU and brought the game to a merciful close shortly after that.

Boise State won 56-21 and the remaining people in the stadium were mostly Bronco fans. It was a painful, but not terribly unsurprising end to the home slate of games for USU.

Few silver linings

The game was miserable, but the season has been about where I thought it would be. Assuming Utah State beats a terrible New Mexico team in the regular-season finale, USU will finish with back to back winning seasons. That’s a step in the right direction considering the Aggies had three losing seasons in a row from 2015-2017.

A win over New Mexico would also guarantee USU a bowl game. This will result in extra practices for the younger players on USU’s roster. Coupled with some rest, these bowl practices could prove to be rejuvenating for the team. Aggies will likely be matched up against a winnable opponent from the MAC or C-USA, a salve the Aggies could use after getting roughed up in November.

If nothing else, with all of their weaknesses exposed in this most recent loss, it will help shed additional light on the recruiting areas Gary Andersen needs to address. Focusing on this for next season along with getting as many reps as possible for the young players could pay off down the road. This team has talent, but they need to learn to put it all together.

Just a couple more wins will help ease the pain of some big missed opportunities this year. If Aggies can win out, we’ll all feel better for next year having taken our lumps in stride. And in this author’s case, because I foolishly bet against a fellow MWC beat writer on the outcome of this game, that means I’ll be taking a cream pie in the face.

You’ve earned the right to laugh, Raja (but watch out for basketball season)!

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Boise State at Utah State odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Boise State Broncos at Utah State Aggies sports betting odds and lines, with college football picks, tips and bets.

The Boise State Broncos (9-1, 6-0, MWC Mountain) and Utah State Aggies (6-4, 5-1 MWC Mountain) square off in Logan, Utah at 10:30 p.m. ET Saturday in a key divisional showdown with postseason implications. We analyze the Boise State-Utah State odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Boise State at Utah State: Three things you need to know

1. The Broncos are 0-1 straight up and against the spread in the state of Utah this season, losing 28-25 at BYU Oct. 19 as seven-point favorites.

2. Boise State QB Hank Bachmeier (shoulder) is listed as questionable with a shoulder injury. QBs Chase Cord and Jaylon Henderson have started and held down the fort in the true freshman’s place since he went down vs. Hawaii, and again against San Jose State.

3. Boise State has dominated this series against the number, going 8-1 ATS in the past nine trips to Logan, and 12-3-2 ATS in the past 17 meetings overall. The road team is also 7-3-2 ATS in the past 12 battles.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM!

Boise State at Utah State: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 9:45 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Boise State 34, Utah State 23

Moneyline (ML)

Boise State (-334) is just too expensive on the road, as there is too much risk and not enough reward. The Broncos will win this game and keep their New Year’s Day bowl hopes alive, though.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on Boise State to win would return a profit of $3.00.

Against the Spread (ATS)

BOISE STATE (-8.5, -115) is worth a small-unit play, as it has playmakers all over the offense, including the dynamic WR Khalil Shakir (44-615-4, also two rushing TDs), as well as leading WR John Hightower (37-754-6) and RB George Holani (131-692-5, also two receiving TDs). USU just doesn’t have the same kind of athletes as the Broncos, and it will show, particularly in the second half.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER (52.5, -110) is worth a small-unit play, too, but don’t get crazy. The Over is 9-3-1 in the past 13 meetings, including 4-0 in Logano. However, the Under has dominated for both of these sides lately, including 8-1 in the past nine vs. winning teams for Boise, and 7-1 in the past eight MWC games for USU.

Still, we could see some nice offense, especially with no snow in the forecast; however, it is expected to snow the rest of the week. Sounds like a good excuse to warm up with some spirits at the White Owl in Logan, a great place for drinks in Utah State’s little college town.

Get some action on this game or others, place a bet with BetMGM today. And for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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