UCF TE Alec Holler will return for 6th season in 2023: ‘I love this place’
Like his quarterback John Rhys Plumlee, UCF tight end Alec Holler will be back next year for the Knights’ inaugural season in the Big 12 Conference and that’s welcomed news given the state of his position group.
It will be Holler’s sixth season of college football made possible by an extra year of eligibility granted to athletes by the NCAA due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Holler announced the move Thursday afternoon on The Shepherd Orlando 1270 AM radio station.
“I love this team, this university, this school, the coaching staff, and all of my teammates,” he said. “When I just think about the journey and how far I’ve come, it kind of came down to that God is kind of pulling me to come back for another year.”
Holler said he informed UCF coach Gus Malzahn of his decision earlier in the day. He explained his reasons.
“I love this place,” he said. “I want to help be a leader going into the Big 12. It’s not about any money. In the NIL space now, a lot of people are all about money. If it was about money, I would go start working or doing something else.
“It’s really about the dream of trying to do what’s best to get me to the NFL, in terms of developing and coming back an even better player next year.”
Holler also serves as a safety net for Malzahn, who faces a lot of unknowns with the tight end depth chart.
Although Zach Marsh Wojan appeared in every game this season and has one more year of eligibility remaining, the California native only made 1 catch this year: a 21-yard touchdown vs. South Carolina State in the season-opener.
Florida transfer Kemore Gamble has exhausted his eligibility.
Redshirt sophomore Jordan Davis injured a knee when the Knights traveled to FAU on Sept. 17 and hasn’t played since then. Freshman Grant Stevens underwent shoulder surgery and took a redshirt.
A Winter Park native, Holler should have ample opportunity to build what started out as a long shot at UCF.
After walking on the team in 2018, Holler had a season-ending knee injury the following season.
Making his college debut in 2020 and appearing in all 10 games, Holler earned a scholarship over the summer after Malzahn’s arrival.
He played in all 13 games while making eight starts at tight end as a redshirt junior. Holler caught 19 passes for 192 yards and finished third on the team with 3 touchdown catches.
Holler only caught 1 touchdown this year for the Knights, but it was perhaps the most important of the season.
With 20 seconds remaining as UCF trailed rival USF 39-38 on Nov. 28 in Tampa, quarterback Mikey Keene found Holler in the front left corner of the end zone on a 14-yard pass.
Holler made an acrobatic,one-handed catch to put the Knights ahead for good 46-39 over the Bulls to clinch a spot in the American Athletic Conference championship game.
He enters the Military Bowl vs. Duke on Dec. 28 with UCF’s fourth-most receiving yards (258) on 20 catches.
The Knights also picked up an oral commitment from Mosley High School (Lynn Haven) tight end Randy Pittman in October. All verbal commitments are non-binding until, at the earliest, the early signing period opens Dec. 21 and they can become official.
With Holler back next season, the Knights have a more than reliable option at tight end entering the Big 12.
“Being a leader for these guys and helping mentor UCF into this next stage — I’m excited about it,” he said. “I’m ready and I’m juiced up.”
Email Jason Beede at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @therealBeede.
