88 Days! Happy Austin Holt Day!

By: Mitch Harper

The Road to Independence rolls on.  Now only 88 days till Cougar Football.

Austin Holt, #88, Sophomore, Tight End

Holt came to BYU as one of the most heralded TE recruits in the country in 2008 out of Bingham High School.  Had offers from the likes of Florida and Stanford.  Went on a mission straight out of high school.

In his first season as a Cougar, Holt along with the rest of the TE’s last year had showed some inconsistent play.  Holt however is the best blocking TE BYU currently has and that was on display last season.  Holt has the build at 6-4, 245 and the blocking prowess to one day have a career in the NFL.

Holt heads into Fall camp vying for the starting Tight End spot.  Currently placed behind Devin Mahina on the depth chart.

Historical #88’s

Phil Odle, SE (WR) (1965-1967)

When Odle graduated from BYU he practically held every receiving record there was in the WAC.  Ended his career with 2,548 career receiving yards.  Played three seasons for the Detroit Lions.  Odle passed away in 2006 due to lung problems.  He was 63.

Jay Miller, WR (1971-1974)

As a Junior in 1973 (second year of LaVell tenure), Jay Miller recorded one of the best seasons for a College Football receiver ever.  Hauled in 100 receptions, 22 of which came in a victory against New Mexico, and finished with 1,181 yards that year.  Earning Miller 1st Team All-American honors.  In Miller’s Senior year, he had a season-ending knee injury which later became a career ender.  A great talent.

Itula Mili, TE (1991; 1994-1996)

Mili was on the fast track to becoming a high NFL Draft pick while excelling at BYU.  Then in the 1996 WAC Championship Game (1st year of the game) on a miserable astroturf surface in Sam Boyd Stadium, Mili blew out his knee in the first quarter.  Mili went from a first day lock to eventually being drafted in the 5th-Round by the Seattle Seahawks.

Mili and Chad Lewis were one of the best TE tandems BYU and College Football have ever seen in 1995 and 1996 seasons.

Andrew George, TE (2005-2009)

George was a talented TE it just so happened he had an even better TE in front of him all the time in his career at BYU (Jonny Harline and Dennis Pitta).  George would of been a starter at practically any College Football program but loved BYU and continued to work hard.  His hard work paid off and he will forever be remembered in BYU history with his game-winning grab against Utah in 2009 to give the Cougars their third victory over the Utes in the previous four meetings.

George signed a Free Agent contract with the Buffalo Bills in 2010, but was then cut by the team during that season.

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