Caleb Lohner is already a ‘Caleb’rity in the world of College Basketball and Football. Yeah, it isn’t a typo. The dual-sport athlete is a well-known figure around Utah’s hardwood and gridiron. But we’ll stick to football for now! The #84 plays at Tight End for the Utes and has already gained attention with his two touchdown receptions in the first four games of the season. Well, pretty impressive for a guy who just switched from basketball to football in 2020 when he moved from Baylor to Utah.
At 6-foot-8, with a vertical jump that’ll make your head spin, it’s no wonder if people are asking, ‘What do his parents feed him?’ He’s got a natural knack for football, and as he puts it, “Football maybe was a long time coming.” While it might be a stretch to say he has Heisman-level energy, everyone’s excited to see what he’ll accomplish at Utah. Curious about his background and where his athletic genes come from? Meet his parents, Matt Lohner and Kristin.
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Lohner has had an enviable knack for sports from a very young age. After all, growing up in Dallas, Texas, the land of the two giant franchises, the Cowboys and the Mavericks. It was no surprise for Caleb to have an utter fascination with the ball sports. To top it off his parents, Matt Lohner and Kristin, both instilled passion and sacrificed to shape his athletic journey. He hit the gene pool lottery all thanks to his dad, who, after graduating from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, played for the BYU Cougars during the 1991-92 season and again from 1994 to 96. Body with brains! He currently serves as the Director of Business Development at Connor Group based in Utah. Mum’s being sweet and caring as usual made sure to support him through numerous competitions.
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Passing on the torch to his offspring was quite an inevitable reality for the Lohners. Evidently, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. It was obvious to the Lohners that Caleb was a natural athlete with a lot of potential. Not just his parents a lot of others wanted to see the Utes dual-sport talent flourishing.
Utah coach knew Caleb would be a dual-sport cynosureAdd Coach Kyle Whittingham to the list of people eager to see Caleb Lohner thrive! Whittingham spotted Caleb’s potential early on, knowing his dad, Matt Lohner, too. He even envisioned Caleb playing for Utah Utes, though he didn’t expect it to actually happen. For the coach, it’s a full-circle moment.
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But for Caleb, the transition from point forward in basketball to tight end in football hasn’t been easy. Not only is he adjusting to a new position, but also a whole new sport. “Football has a lot more technique, and football is very fundamental,” admits Lohner, as he navigates this new challenge. Still, with his size and athleticism, he’s got the tools to be a strong tight end, especially in the red zone. Fellow tight end Brant Kuithe has been impressed, saying, “He’s just long and can go up and get the ball,” and praised how Caleb’s basketball skills translate to the field.
No doubt Caleb’s been getting some extra football tips from his dad, a former Cougar himself, which is definitely something to be thankful for. With supportive parents and a coach cheering him on, Caleb’s future with the Utes looks promising. But when the basketball season comes calling, will Lohner join the Runnin’ Utes? What do y’all think?
Source : EssentiallySports