Locals in the NFL: Lehi's Dallin Holker proves age only a number in securing Saints' roster spot

AROUND THE SHIELD — Dallin Holker didn't play an extra COVID-eligible season in college football like a lot of his peers who entered the 2024 NFL draft, but he did serve a two-year mission for his church in Chile, so he knows a few things about being an older player trying to make an NFL roster.

The trouble was compounded when he went undrafted in April. But Holker, the former Lehi High standout who declared for the NFL out of Colorado State after three years at BYU, never gave up hope in his dream.

This week, his dream became a reality when the 6-foot-4, 235-pound tight end made the initial 53-man roster for the New Orleans Saints.

As one Colorado-based newspaper put it: Miracles do exist.

"I think it says a lot about the organization, too. They're going to take the guys they need and the guys they want, no matter if they're drafted or undrafted," Holker said from his Saints locker. "I think it's pretty cool to see that."

The extra years in college provided previously by the COVID-19 season of 2020 and now with name, image and likeness payments keep some borderline draft prospects in school can benefit a franchise. Holker hopes his extra years of maturity — from his mission to the people of Vina del Mar, Chile, at least — can benefit the Saints, too.

"It helps guys mature a little bit more," said Holker, who tied for a Colorado State record with six touchdown receptions in 2023 en route to second-team All-America honors. "I'm 24 years old, and with that mission, I (could have) had two more years (of eligibility). But I feel like those two years help a ton. I feel like I'm way more mature and smarter. I think it helps a ton."

As all 32 teams in the league assembling practice squads of up to 15 players each Wednesday, here's a look at the 54 players from Utah high school and college football programs on a roster, as well as those who have been named to practice squads.

Practice squads

• Jackson Barton, OL, Utah/Brighton — Arizona Cardinals
• Winston Reid, LB, Weber State/Copper Hills — Cleveland Browns
• Thomas Yassmin, TE, Utah — Denver Broncos (via NFL's international player exemption)
• Marquise Blair, S, Utah — Seattle Seahawks
• Jonah Williams, DE, Weber State — Minnesota Vikings
• Tim Patrick, WR, Utah — Detroit Lions, per NFL.com
• Max Tooley, LB, BYU/Bountiful — Houston Texans, per Houston Chronicle
• Gabe Jeudy-Lally, CB, BYU (via Tennessee) — Tennessee Titans
• Jalen Davis, CB, Utah State — Cincinnati Bengals, per WLWT
• Nick Vigil, LB, Utah State/Fremont — Dallas Cowboys

BYU players on active rosters (15)

• Tyler Allgeier, RB — Atlanta Falcons
• Zayne Anderson, S (Stansbury) — Green Bay Packers
• Brady Christensen, OG (Bountiful) — Carolina Panthers
• Michael Davis, CB — Washignton Commanders
• Blake Freeland, OT (Herriman) — Indianapolis Colts
• Jaren Hall, QB (Maple Mountain) — Minnesota Vikings
• Taysom Hill, TE/QB — New Orleans Saints
• Kyle Van Noy, LB — Baltimore Ravens
• Puka Nacua, WR (Orem from Washington) — Los Angeles Rams
• Ryan Rehkow, P — Cincinnati Bengals
• Kingsley Suamataia, OT — Kansas City Chiefs
• Khyiris Tonga, DT (Granger) — Arizona Cardinals
• Fred Warner, LB — San Francisco 49ers
• Jamaal Williams, RB — New Orleans Saints
• Zach Wilson, QB (Corner Canyon) — Denver Broncos
• Sione Takitaki, LB — New England Patriots (designated for reserve/physically unable to perform list)*

Southern Utah players on active rosters (3)

• Braxton Jones, OT (Murray) — Chicago Bears
• Miles Killebrew, S — Pittsburgh Steelers
• Tanner McLachlan, TE (via Arizona) — Cincinnati Bengals

Utah players on active rosters (19)

• Cody Barton, LB (Brighton) — Denver Broncos
• Cole Bishop, S — Buffalo Bills
• Julian Blackmon, S (Layton) — Indianapolis Colts
• Garett Bolles, OT (Westlake via Snow College) — Denver Broncos
• Britain Covey, WR/RS (Timpview) — Philadelphia Eagles
• Mohamoud Diabate, LB — Cleveland Browns
• Jonah Elliss, OLB — Denver Broncos
• Matt Gay, K (Orem via Utah Valley) — Indianapolis Colts
• Tyler Huntley, QB — Cleveland Browns
• Jaylon Johnson, CB — Chicago Bears
• Dalton Kincaid, TE — Buffalo Bills
• Sataoa Laumea, OG — Seattle Seahawks
• Devin Lloyd, LB — Jacksonville Jaguars
• Zack Moss, RB — Cincinnati Bengals
• Clark Phillips III, CB — Atlanta Falcons
• Sione Vaki, RB — Detroit Lions
• Devaughn Vele, WR — Denver Broncos
• Marcus Williams, S — Baltimore Ravens
• Mitch Wishnowsky, P — San Francisco 49ers
• Nephi Sewell, LB (Desert Hills) — New Orleans Saints (designated for reserve/physically unable to perform list)*
• Terrell Burgess, S — Buffalo Bills (placed on reserve/injured list)*
• Leki Fotu, DT (Herriman) — New York Jets (placed on reserve/injured list)*

Utah State players on active rosters (4)

• Jordan Love, QB — Green Bay Packers
• Patrick Scales, LS (Weber) — Chicago Bears
• Bobby Wagner, MLB — Washignton Commanders
• Jaylen Warren, RB (East via Snow College) — Pittsburgh Steelers

Weber State players on active rosters (2)

• Taron Johnson, CB — Buffalo Bills
• Rashid Shaheed, WR/RS — New Orleans Saints
• Sua Opeta, OG (Stansbury) — Tampa Bay Buccaneers (placed on reserve/injured list)*

Other Utah high school football alums on active rosters (11)

• Dallin Holker, TE, (Lehi via Colorado State) — New Orleans Saints
• Kaden Elliss, LB, Judge Memorial (via Idaho) — Atlanta Falcons
• Simi Fehoko, WR, Brighton (via Stanford) — Los Angeles Chargers
• Alohi Gilman, S, Orem (via Kahuku High and Notre Dame) — Los Angeles Chargers
• Andre James, C, Herriman (via UCLA) — Las Vegas Raiders
• Jackson Powers-Johnson, OG, Corner Canyon (via Oregon) — Las Vegas Raiders
• Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham (via Stanford) — Houston Texans
• Noah Sewell, LB, Orem (via Oregon) — Chicago Bears
• Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills (via Oregon) — Detroit Lions
• Taki Taimani, DL, East (via Oregon) — Minnesota Vikings
• Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham (via USC) — Cincinnati Bengals

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