Former Baylor and BYU forward Caleb Lohner has transferred to Utah, but the commitment wasn't as a basketball player this time. Instead, the 6-foot-8 graduate transfer will be suiting up at tight end for Utah. After entering the transfer portal on April 10th, Lohner chose to return to the state of Utah, where he started his collegiate basketball career.
A few weeks after attending the Utes' spring game in April, Lohner announced that he would be committing to Utah football, stating that he had a "unique opportunity to potentially contribute on the court as well," as he wrote on X. Lohner did not play football in high school, but the experience is not the catalyst for this transfer; it is the physical attributes he possesses.
Who is Caleb Lohner?
Lohner is a Dallas, Texas native who attended Wasatch Academy during his high school basketball career, located in Mt. Pleasant, Utah. Out of high school, he was a Three-Star prospect on the hardwood, receiving offers from Utah, BYU, Baylor, Texas, Kansas State, and others. Lohner initially committed to the Runnin' Utes but changed his mind and joined BYU.
In his freshman season with BYU, Lohner played in 27 games with 13 starts. While averaging 28.3 minutes per game, Lohner contributed an average of 7.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per outing. In his sophomore season, he saw increased action, playing in 35 games and starting in 31 of them. While his playing time increased, his production remained consistent, contributing 7.0 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in the Cougars' 24-11 season.
After his sophomore season with the Cougars, Lohner decided to transfer to the Baylor Bears, who had offered him a scholarship while he was in high school. His minutes at Baylor were limited in his two seasons due to injury, and his production suffered as a result. He averaged 3.2 points and 3.5 rebounds in his first season with the Bears, playing 12.3 minutes per game. In his final season, he contributed 2.4 points and 2.3 rebounds in 9.2 minutes per game.
What Can Lohner Contribute on the Field?
While Lohner didn't play football in high school, his physical attributes of size and athleticism have been evident throughout his basketball career. Scouting him as a football player presents a unique challenge beyond those lines, but the Utes are optimistic about his potential contribution. Despite the Utes already having a stacked TE room, if Lohner does see the field, he has the potential to leverage his size to their advantage.
Lohner isn't the first to take this peculiar path; a great example of a hooper turned football player in college is former New Orleans Saints TE Jimmy Graham. In Utes history, John Madsen walked on to Urban Meyer's Utes squad and ended up playing in the NFL. Whether Lohner is catching passes or backing down defenders for the Utes, it is something all fans should pay attention to.
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