Jonah Dalmas finds himself in a unique spot. He’s a fan favorite – yet nobody wants to see him kicking this fall.
Dalmas had a record-breaking 2021 season for Boise State, sending 26 footballs through the uprights and totaling 116 total points.
But more of Dalmas means less touchdowns for the Boise State offense. The Broncos hope the only time he’s needed is when he’s standing at the 10-yard line, kicking for an extra point that most fans get up to go to the bathroom for.
“Obviously people are saying they don’t want me on the field more and I’m perfectly okay with that,” Dalmas said. “If we can get touchdowns and get more points on the board that’s just what we want to do and that’s our plan.”
The standards are high for the 2022 Preseason All-Mountain West placekicker after making 26 of his 28 field goal attempts last season. He surpassed Tyler Rausa’s previous Boise State record of 25 made field goals in a season (without having a conference championship game or bowl game) and his 26 were more than any other kicker in the nation last year.
He briefly contemplated a jump to the NFL last season – his stock might not be any higher than it was – but ultimately decided to return to Boise State.
“I think everybody’s dream is to go to the next level,” Dalmas said. “What I’m focused on right now is getting a Mountain West Championship ring.”
Dalmas made four field goals in three separate games last season and was twice recognized as the Lou Groza Award ‘Star of the Week’. He finished as a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award (given to college football’s top kicker) and made the preseason watch list for the award in 2022.
But despite the accolades and success, Dalmas is as determined as ever to continue improving.
“Every kick,” Dalmas continued. “Every single rep I have I treat it like a game and make sure that I’m going out and having that game set mentality to go out and execute the play and do it for my brothers.”
Dalmas added a fresh layer to the foundation of his life this summer when he married his longtime girlfriend Chelsea after previously dropping to a knee on eighth street in downtown Boise to propose.
“I knew she was the one because she wanted to be a part of my life,” the former Rocky Mountain High School star said. “I wanted to be a part of hers and support her dreams and aspirations and she wanted to do the same for me. … The dream is to go to the next level and that’s what makes my wife so amazing.”
History says a record-breaking season for a Boise State kicker will be followed by a decline in production the next year – primarily because of less opportunities due to the offense hopefully scoring more touchdowns.
Rausa, the former record holder at Boise State for the most field goals made in a season, made 25 of 30 of field goal attempts his 2015 junior season and just 9 of 13 the following year in 2016.
The tradeoff? Higher quality offensive production throughout the season and you guessed it, a win in Corvallis facing Oregon State (the Broncos beat Oregon State in Corvallis in 2015).
As good as he is, coaches, teammates and even fans would love to see Dalmas plenty this season – but only as he trots out for an extra point after a touchdown.
“When it’s my time to execute I’ll go out and help my brothers, the coaching staff, and all the Boise State fans.”
Dalmas and the Broncos open the season on Sept. 3 at Oregon State at 8:30 p.m. MT on ESPN.
