The play was so ruthless in execution, so devastatingly simple in process, that Colorado defensive back DJ McKinney hit the turf and slammed his fist in frustration.<\/p>\n
In the fourth quarter of a November CU blowout win over Utah, Utes tight end Caleb Lohner isolated on the left side of the formation from the 3-yard line. He made a move, cut slightly to the outside \u2014 and then simply shoved his 250-pound backside into McKinney as if he was going for a rebound. The corner flailed his arms helplessly, disappearing behind a white jersey. And Lohner snagged a touchdown pass, shot a cool glance at a peeved McKinney, and casually flicked the ball away behind him.<\/p>\n
It was his fourth touchdown catch of the season. It was his fourth catch, period, of the season. And it was his fourth catch \u2014 at any level \u2014 since Lohner decided to shelve football after seventh grade to pursue basketball.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, with their last pick of the NFL draft, the Broncos took Lohner in the seventh round.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know I don\u2019t have a ton of football under my belt, but that\u2019s exactly why I\u2019m playing the game, because I\u2019ve developed a passion and love,\u201d Lohner said Saturday, on a conference call with media.<\/p>\n
That fourth catch against Colorado was also Lohner\u2019s final of the season. Four catches on tape, total, of collegiate football. Zero catches on tape, total, of high school football. \u201cFifty-seven plays,\u201d Broncos head coach Sean Payton affirmed Saturday night, referencing Lohner\u2019s total snap count last year for the Utes.<\/p>\n
How on earth, then, did a kid with 57 plays under his belt hear his name called in Green Bay?<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s super unique,\u201d said Utah basketball coach David Evans, who coached Lohner with the Utes last winter. \u201cOh my God.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lohner also played basketball for Evans in his junior and senior seasons at Utah\u2019s Wasatch Academy. Even back then, \u201ceveryone kept telling him\u201d to switch to football, Evans recalled. He was skilled as a rebounder and a sheer athlete, but somewhat of a 6-foot-7 tweener without an explosive jumper in a changing era of basketball. <\/p>\n