George Holani
{{Short description|American football player (born 1999)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = George Holani
| image = George Holani (201031-F-XS730-1010) (cropped).jpg
| caption = Holani with the Boise State Broncos in 2020
| current_team = Seattle Seahawks
| number = 36
| position = Running back
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|12|16}}
| birth_place = Bellflower, California, U.S.
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 10
| weight_lb = 218
| high_school = St. John Bosco {{nowrap|(Bellflower, California)}}
| college = Boise State (2019–2023)
| undraftedyear = 2024
| pastteams =
- Seattle Seahawks ({{NFL Year|2024}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
- MW Freshman of the Year (2019)
- 2× Second-team All-MW (2019, 2022)
| statseason = 2024
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Rushing yards
| statvalue1 = 10
| statlabel2 = Rushing average
| statvalue2 = 3.3
| statlabel3 = Rushing touchdowns
| statvalue3 =
| statlabel4 = Receptions
| statvalue4 = 1
| statlabel5 = Receiving yards
| statvalue5 = –1
| statlabel6 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue6 =
| pfr = HolaGe00
}}
George Holani (born December 16, 1999) is an American professional football running back for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Boise State Broncos.
Early life
Holani attended St. John Bosco High School and was rated as a three-star recruit when he committed to play college football for the Boise State Broncos.{{cite web |last1=Grosbard |first1=Adam |title=St. John Bosco running back George Holani commits to Boise State |url=https://www.presstelegram.com/2018/10/02/st-john-bosco-running-back-george-holani-commits-to-boise-state/ |website=Long Beach Press-Telegram |date=2 October 2018 |access-date=8 March 2024}}{{Cite web |last=Southorn |first=Dave |date=October 1, 2018 |title=Boise State football gets running back commitment from nation's No. 1-ranked team |url=https://www.idahostatesman.com/sports/college/mountain-west/boise-state-university/boise-state-football/article219348870.html |access-date=8 March 2024 |website=Idaho Statesman}}
College career
In week 10 of the 2019 season, Holani got his first career start against San Jose State where he rushed for 126 yards and four touchdowns.{{cite web |last1=Prater |first1=Mike |title=Holani has built a legendary career — how do we feel about his legacy? |url=https://www.idahopress.com/blueturfsports/football/prater-holani-has-built-a-legendary-career-how-do-we-feel-about-his-legacy/article_063b017c-9bba-11ee-934f-5f09e05372da.html |website=Idaho Press |date=15 December 2023 |access-date=7 March 2024}} He was named the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year and a second-team all-Mountain West selection.{{cite web |last1=Trust |first1=Jay |title=Boise State's Weaver, Williams and Holani bring home MW Player of the Year awards |url=https://www.ktvb.com/article/sports/ncaa/ncaaf/boise-state-football/boise-states-weaver-williams-and-holani-bring-home-mw-player-of-the-year-awards/277-ae08457f-674a-46ba-a429-7215f42f8820 |website=KTVB |date=4 December 2019 |access-date=7 March 2024}} In his first three seasons from 2019 to 2021, Holani rushed for 1,691 yards and nine touchdown and made 47 receptions for 427 yards and five touchdowns.{{cite web |title=George Holani |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/george-holani-1.html |website=Sports Reference |access-date=7 March 2024}}
In 2022, Holani rushed for 1,157 yards and ten touchdowns and brought in 24 receptions for 151 yards and three touchdowns,{{cite web |last1=Armstrong |first1=Zack |title='He has it all': Boise State's Holani earns spot on Senior Bowl watch list |url=https://www.ktvb.com/article/sports/ncaa/ncaaf/boise-state-football/boise-state-george-holani-senior-bowl-watch-list/277-1b934fa4-5960-4f20-a9d1-a172bf7b51e3 |website=KTVB |date=23 August 2023 |access-date=7 March 2024}} earning second-team all-Mountain West honors.{{cite web |last1=Wustrow |first1=John |title=Despite LA Bowl loss, Holani gives his all in likely final game with Broncos |url=https://www.idahopress.com/blueturfsports/football/despite-la-bowl-loss-holani-gives-his-all-in-likely-final-game-with-broncos/article_76c9796e-9caf-11ee-8c9f-ab9c66b62d50.html |website=Idaho Press |date=17 December 2023 |access-date=7 March 2024}} In 2023, he rushed for 748 yards and seven touchdowns and brought in 17 receptions for 199 yards.{{cite web |last1=Wustrow |first1=John |title=Holani gets invite to NFL combine |url=https://www.idahopress.com/blueturfsports/holani-gets-invite-to-nfl-combine/article_3c6f8198-caca-11ee-8b7f-d37c22906daf.html |website=Idaho Press |date=13 February 2024 |access-date=7 March 2024}} After the season, Holani declared for the 2024 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Counts |first=Ron |date=January 12, 2024 |title=Offseason tracker: Which Boise State players declared for NFL Draft? Who is returning? |url=https://www.idahostatesman.com/sports/college/mountain-west/boise-state-university/boise-state-football/article283789548.html |access-date=7 March 2024 |website=Idaho Statesman}} He participated in the 2024 NFL combine after receiving an invite.{{Cite web |last=Counts |first=Ron |date=February 13, 2024 |title=One of Boise State's most productive running backs earns invite to NFL Scouting Combine |url=https://www.idahostatesman.com/sports/college/mountain-west/boise-state-university/boise-state-football/article285432397.html |access-date=7 March 2024 |website=Idaho Statesman}}
Holani finished his Boise State career with 3,569 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns, while also hauling in 88 receptions for 777 yards and eight touchdowns.{{cite web |last1=Armstrong |first1=Zack |title=Boise State RB George Holani earns invite to 2024 NFL Combine |url=https://www.ktvb.com/article/sports/ncaa/ncaaf/boise-state-football/george-holani-boise-state-running-back-invited-2024-nfl-scouting-combine/277-75629883-a8af-429b-b6a3-4acd552aee10 |website=KTVB |date=13 February 2024 |access-date=7 March 2024}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 10 3/8
| weight = 208
| dash = 4.52
| ten split = 1.57
| twenty split = 2.64
| shuttle = 4.33
| cone drill = 7.32
| vertical = 39.0
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 7
| bench = 24
| arm span = 29 3/4
| hand span = 9 3/4
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/george-holani/3200484f-4c00-0290-4322-bf5019f19a33 |title=George Holani Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=March 12, 2024}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1031018&DraftYear=2024 |title=2024 NFL Draft Scout George Holani College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=March 12, 2024}}
}}
Holani signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2024.{{cite web|title=Seahawks Sign 16 Undrafted Free Agents|url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-sign-16-undrafted-free-agents|author=Boyle, John|website=Seahawks.com|date=May 3, 2024}} He was waived on August 27, and re-signed to the practice squad.{{cite web|title=Seahawks Make Roster Moves, Establish Initial 2024 53-Man Roster|url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-make-roster-moves-establish-initial-2024-53-man-roster|author=Boyle, John|website=Seahawks.com|date=August 27, 2024}}{{cite web|title=Seahawks Sign 15 To Practice Squad, Including Veteran Cornerback Artie Burns|url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-sign-15-to-practice-squad-including-veteran-cornerback-artie-burns|author=Boyle, John|website=Seahawks.com|date=August 28, 2024}} On December 26, Holani was signed to the active roster after Kenneth Walker III was placed on injured reserve.{{Cite web |last=Boyle |first=John |date=December 26, 2024 |title=Seahawks Place Kenneth Walker III On Injured Reserve; Sign George Holani Off Practice Squad |url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-place-kenneth-walker-iii-on-injured-reserve-sign-george-holani-off-practice-squad |access-date=December 26, 2024 |website=Seahawks.com }}
Personal life
Holani's parents are both Tongan, and have eleven children together including Holani. Growing up, he often had to babysit his siblings while his parents worked, ingraining him with a sense of responsibility from a young age.{{Cite news |last=Southorn |first=Dave |date=2019-11-13 |title=Why Boise State freshman running back George Holani is built to carry the load |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1373660/2019/11/13/george-holani-boise-state-freshman-running-back/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |work=The Athletic |issn=0362-4331}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://broncosports.com/sports/football/roster/george-holani/9284 Boise State Broncos bio]
- [https://www.seahawks.com/team/players-roster/george-holani/ Seattle Seahawks bio]
{{Seattle Seahawks roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Holani, George}}
Category:Players of American football from Bellflower, California
Category:American football running backs
Category:American people of Tongan descent
Category:Pacific Islander American players of American football
Category:St. John Bosco High School alumni