‘Had to put my pride aside’: This Boise State lineman made a hard choice last fall
Boise State center Kekaniokoa Holomalia-Gonzalez wouldn’t go into specifics Monday about why he missed all of last season, but he said it was one of the most emotionally draining experiences of his life.
“It wasn’t something I could just tape or brace up and play through,” Holomalia-Gonzalez told reporters after the Broncos’ third spring practice. “I had to take a step back and take the recommendations of people that know what they’re talking about. I had to put my pride aside and listen.”
He didn’t specify whether an injury or some other medical condition held him out of the lineup, but the 6-foot-2, 300-pound redshirt senior said he was dealing with it during fall camp last year and had to make the decision to shut it down about a week before the Broncos’ season opener at UCF.
Holomalia-Gonzalez said he tried to get cleared to play multiple times, to no avail. He even wondered at one point whether he’d play again.
“It was a tough road,” he said. “It’s not like me or any offensive lineman to pull ourselves out, but it was needed for my long-term health.”
The native of Santa Ana, California, said he’s back to 100% this year, and he’s excited to keep proving his doubters wrong.
“People can argue I came from a big high school, but I was one of those guys in a big pool of sharks that had to fight, claw and scratch to get where they are today,” Holomalia-Gonzalez said. “One of the things that helps me is having the chip-on-your-shoulder mentality.”
Holomalia-Gonzalez spent his high school career at Mater Dei. In 2017, he helped the Monarchs go undefeated, win a California Interscholastic Federation state championship and become the No. 1-ranked program in the country. He played with quarterback JT Daniels, who transferred from USC to Georgia in 2020 and is in the portal again, and Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.
All five starting offensive linemen from his senior class went on to play in college: Washington center Myles Murao; guard Chris Murray, who was a second-team All-Big 12 pick at Oklahoma last season; tackle Tommy Brown, who spent four years at Alabama before transferring to Colorado; and former Army lineman Mason Kolinchak.
Despite Mater Dei’s massive success during Holomalia-Gonzalez’s senior year, he didn’t have any scholarship offers from Power Five programs coming out of high school. That stuck with him.
“I always remind myself that because of my height or whatever, I was overlooked,” Holomalia-Gonzalez said. “I wanted to come to college and prove what I can do, and it’s time to do so.”
Holomalia-Gonzalez made the first two starts of his college career in 2019, and he started six games in 2020. He’s one of six offensive linemen with starting experience at Boise State, and he may have been the unit’s missing link last fall, offensive line coach Tim Keane said.
“He brings a ton of leadership and we’re excited to have him back out there,” Keane said. “If we can keep him on the field for 12 games, we can do something special.”
Boise State started three players at center while Holomalia-Gonzalez was out last season. Donte Harrington, then a fifth-year senior, opened the season at center and was replaced four games in by Texas Tech transfer Will Farrar. Farrar suffered an injury during the bye week and was replaced by fifth-year senior Jake Stetz, who held down the position for the final five games of the season.
Harrington and Stetz are gone, but Farrar is one of 11 super seniors on the roster this year. He could end up landing a role as one of the Broncos’ starting guards, or he may be a valuable backup at all three interior positions on the line, Keane said.
Either way, Holomalia-Gonzalez is bullish on the Broncos’ offensive line taking a big step forward.
“Offensive line is about getting the job done,” he said. “We have the dudes to do it.”
Projected starting offensive line
Boise State won’t have returning starters John Ojukwu (left tackle) or Ben Dooley (guard/tackle) on the field this spring because of injuries, and Garrett Curran (guard) is out until after spring break. That has opened the door for young offensive linemen to get some reps with the starters, including guards Mason Randolph and Julian Simpson, and tackles Jacob Golden and Cord Kringlen.
With so much experience back on the line, there could be precious few snaps to split between those young linemen during the season. Here’s a look at projected starters on the offensive line.
Left tackle
Ojukwu, 6-yr., 6-6, 303 — A likely five-year starter, Ojukwu moved from right tackle to left in 2020, replacing Ezra Cleveland, who was a second-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings.
Left Guard
Curran, R-Sr., 6-5, 305 — After starting all seven games in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Curran missed three because of injuries last season. He was an honorable mention All-Mountain West pick in 2020.
Center
Holomalia-Gonzalez, R-Sr., 6-2, 300 — A former three-star recruit, according to 247Sports, Holomalia-Gonzalez chose Boise State coming out of high school over scholarship offers from Air Force, Army, Hawaii, UNLV, San Jose State, New Mexico and Delaware State.
Right Guard
Dooley, R-Jr., 6-5, 305 — Dooley could end up playing guard or tackle this season, depending on how players around him develop, Keane said. Dooley opened last season at right tackle, but he bumped inside to guard four games in and held down the position for the rest of the season.
Right tackle
Cade Beresford, R-Sr., 6-7, 300 — A transfer from Washington State, Beresford joined the Broncos in January. He saw playing time at left tackle for the Cougars as a redshirt freshman in 2019 and started eight games at right guard last season. He’s working primarily at right tackle this spring, Keane said.
