Long wait worth it for Boise State walk-on center Zach Holmes

BOISE – How long had it been since Zach Holmes played in an actual football game? 

So long that many of his friends forgot he was even still playing. 

The Boise State walk-on center went three full seasons without playing a single snap before entering late in the season opener against Georgia Southern. 

He then earned his first career start the following week at Autzen Stadium against Oregon – the in-state school he once dreamed of playing for. 

Holmes spent two years as a walk-on at Oregon State but never saw the field. He transferred to Boise State prior to last season but went another season without getting any action. But he stuck with it – and is now finally getting rewarded.

“I had people reach out to me like ‘oh I’m watching the Ducks and there’s Zach Holmes (playing for Boise State)’,” Holmes said Tuesday. “They kind of forgot I was still playing college football, so that was cool. 

“That was one of my big goals for my whole life and finally bing able to do it was really cool.”

Holmes, who went to West Linn High School in West Linn, Oregon, said he dreamed of one day getting to play at Autzen Stadium for the Ducks. The fact that it ended up being his first start made the last few years even more worth it.

The opportunity came due to an injury to starting center Mason Randolph, who is expected to miss several weeks with a bicep injury. Holmes battled with Jason Steele for the backup spot during fall camp and earned the right to start against Oregon. 

Holmes more than held his own. Boise State’s offensive line played well for a second straight game with the Broncos rushing for 200-plus yards and quarterback Maddux Madsen only being sacked once. 

“It took a while for me but I feel good about what I’ve done this year to kind of earn that spot for myself,” Holmes said. “I knew it would be a long process for me being a walk-on, but it’s always been a dream of mine (to play college football), so I just take it every day, one step at a time.”

Holmes estimated he’s taken 1,000 practice reps the previous three years – many of which last year came on the scout team against Boise State’s starting defensive line. He credited those valuable reps helping him be ready when he was tapped on the shoulder to enter the game late against Georgia Southern and the following week against Oregon. 

“It was pretty cool to finally get out there,” Holmes said. “It was crazy. During the year I knew eventually my time would come and I’d eventually get on the field if we were maybe blowing somebody out. 

“The nerves were there for sure but I knew to trust my training.”

Holmes admitted he’s “an undersized guy” at 6-foot-2, 302 bounds. He likely would have had more significant interest out of high school and when he entered the transfer portal had he been taller and/or had longer arms. 

But that’s not the card he was dealt – and he’s worked for years to overcome it. That work is finally starting to pay off – and he’s excited to take advantage off his unexpected opportunity heading into Saturday’s game against Portland State.

“Now that I’ve got that game experience under my belt…I feel a lot more confident going into this one,” Holmes said. 

Boise State walk-on center Zach Holmes (72) prepares to snap the ball against Oregon on Sept. 7, 2024, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Boise State Athletics)

Holmes said the call to his dad after the Georgia Southern game as a special one, given all the previous calls in years past about trying to stay positive despite being buried on the depth chart and not seeing the field. 

“To finally tell him some good news – that was really cool for him to hear,” Holmes said.

His dad knows a thing or two about playing football – and playing on The Blue. Ryan Holmes was a linebacker for rival Fresno State in the late 1990s. 

“That’s the funny thing,” Zach Holmes said. “Growing up I was a Fresno State fan, had a Fresno State jersey, watched all the games, and then did a whole 180. I got my dad wearing blue now.”

Asked about his dad’s feelings when he committed to Boise State, Holmes joked, “he was excited, but he had to throw out all his Fresno State stuff and turn some of those posters around.”

Coach Spencer Danielson praised Holmes on Monday both as a football player and a person.

“You talk about a guy who stepped up in a major way,” Danielson said. “With Mason going down, one of the best players on our entire team, and he steps up in that Oregon game and did some really good stuff. He held his own and he’s only going to continue to get better.

“He’s one of the best young men I’ve been around in a long time. … He’s a great young man, loves his teammates and has some great relationships with them and obviously he’s been working his absolute butt off to be ready for his opportunities. When his number got called against Oregon, he was ready.”

Who knows what the future holds for Holmes. But his story is a cool one – and he’s hoping to keep it going as long as possible.

“I’m just taking it one day at a time,” Holmes said. 

Kick off Saturday night against Portland State is scheduled for 7:55 p.m. on FOX Sports 1. The game is nearing a sellout.