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Utah fans have gotten a taste of what life is like for a first-round NFL draft prospect through 8-second glimpses.
Garett Bolles has given a window to his experience in Philadelphia through Utah football's SnapChat account. He drove to his hotel in a Tesla and cradled his son in a room chock-full of sponsors. He socialized with fellow early-round hopefuls quarterback Mitch Trubinsky and cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, and chowed down on cheesesteaks at Jim's downtown. He visited with children who are patients at Shriners Hospital, which Bolles cited as his favorite event of the week so far.
Bolles' thoughts weren't focused ahead — on the NFL draft, on a potential payday of millions and a handshake with Roger Goodell — but on his path behind him while sitting with his wife, Natalie, and agent, Chase Callahan, Tuesday evening.
"It's really amazing: A year and a half ago, I was at Snow College," Bolles said in an interview with The Tribune. "I was trying to figure out where I was going to go and what I was going to do next. Then I went to Utah, then I went to Irvine [Calif.] to train for the draft, and now I'm in Philly, one of the greatest cities in the country. The man above has taken care of me."
Life moves fast when you're 6 foot 5, 300 pounds and can move and hit people like a train. Bolles is expected to become Utah's first pick in the first round since Star Lotulelei in 2013, and the fifth first-round pick the Utes have produced in 20 years.
It's not totally unexpected for the player who was the top-ranked junior college lineman in the country in 2016. But the speed with which Bolles has gone from troubled teen to Snow College standout to the cusp of NFL glory has been the most remarkable aspect of his story in coach Kyle Whittingham's eyes.
"He went through some tough stretches there," he said about Bolles. "To see what he was able to accomplish from when he joined us last May to where he is right now — it's really incredible. He's got great ability, freakish athlete, but his work ethic and desire is why he's in the position he's in now."
Many close observers are now familiar with Bolles' story, which he often likes to compare to Michael Oher, one of his biggest football inspirations. In jail as a teenager, he was taken in by his high school lacrosse coach, who helped turn him toward a cleaner path. After serving an LDS Church mission, Bolles came back with a desire to focus his life on an athletic career and got a shot at Snow College.
But even his Utah path wasn't always smooth.
Bolles was a starter two weeks into the season, but he was hounded by penalties. He had unnecessary roughness, false start and holding penalties against BYU. He was all but replaced by competitor Jackson Barton in the fourth quarter.
While fans wondered if their touted prospect wasn't turning out, within the program, coaches and teammates maintained faith in Bolles.
"It wasn't really a huge concern for us — we knew he'd be able to settle in," Whittingham said. "A lot of those penalties, he was just finishing blocks, that's all he was doing. He's just such an aggressive kid that maybe a couple of those could've gone either way."
At the time, fellow lineman Isaac Asiata predicted that Bolles would go on to be "one of the best offensive linemen that's ever come through this program." The words ended up prophetic. Bolles was the top-rated run blocking tackle by Pro Football Focus by late October, and draft buzz already was building.
Most understood by January that he was going pro. At 24 (and turning 25 in May), Bolles already was older than most competing prospects, and Natalie gave birth to a son, Kingston, in December. It was time to put food on the table.
"We're never going to hold a guy back if it's in his best interest to go," Whittingham said. "He and his family did a great job of doing the research and talking to the people they needed to talk to. There's a point where it would be selfish to try to talk him into staying."
The past few months has been a whirlwind, Bolles said, from training, to the Combine where he was among the top performers in the 40-yard dash, the broad jump, the three-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle. He's flown across the country for private workouts but always makes sure to FaceTime with Natalie and Kingston wherever he goes.
The separation isn't easy for a relatively young family, but they've made it work.
"She understands that this is my job and that this will make our future," Bolles said about his wife. "She's been great with raising our child and supporting me. To make it in this business, you need someone who will love and support you like that. I couldn't ask for a better wife."
This week has been a family affair. Bolles brought his wife and child with him to Philadelphia, as well as his biological father, his adoptive parents, the Freemans, and his in-laws. They'll join Whittingham and offensive line coach Jim Harding at the draft, waiting to hear Bolles' name called.
It's remarkable, Bolles reflected, that he's here after all he's been through. But as dramatically as his life has evolved, he's already prepared for the next step.
"It's a great privilege," he said. "Going to the National Football League, I just want to continue to represent my family and my university and make an impact."
Twitter: @kylegoon —
Utah's NFL draft hopefuls
After producing only one draft pick last year, the Utes are hopeful that the upcoming draft Thursday through Saturday will be a big one for the football program. A list of those expected or hoping to go this weekend, along with a rough projection based on media reports:
OT Garett Bolles • Rounds 1-2
S Marcus Williams • Rounds 2-3
OG Isaac Asiata • Rounds 3-5
CB Brian Allen • Rounds 3-6
RB Joe Williams • Rounds 4-7
DE Hunter Dimick • Rounds 5-free agent
WR Tim Patrick • Rounds 5-free agent
OT Sam Tevi • Rounds 6-free agent
Other hopefuls • OL J.J. Dielman, LS Chase Dominguez, K Andy Phillips, CB Reggie Porter, DT Pasoni Tasini, DE Pita Taumoepenu, S Jason Thompson