Caleb Lohner has traded his football cleats for basketball sneakers.
After suiting up for the University of Utah on the gridiron this fall, Lohner debuted for the Runnin’ Utes last weekend.
The 6-foot-8 forward, who played at BYU and Baylor before coming to Utah to try his hand at football, played 20 minutes in the Utes’ loss to Saint Mary’s.
“I thought Caleb Lohner really brought some things to the table,” Utah coach Craig Smith said.
The forward finished his first basketball game of the season with eight points, five rebounds and a steal.
“He’s got really good feel for the game and he’s a true veteran,” Smith said. “... He really impacted this game. It was obvious. But he got tired late.”
Lohner played 62 games and averaged 23 minutes a night during two seasons at BYU (2020-2022). He then transferred to Baylor, where his playing time was cut in half over the next two seasons.
That’s when the athletic big man decided to give football, a sport he hadn’t played since middle school, a shot. In his first season, the Utah tight end caught four passes — each for a touchdown.
“You don’t just go play football. Who does that?” Smith said. “It tells you about his toughness and his edge and how he competes. He’s a freaky athlete.”
Smith and the Utes left a roster spot open for Lohner, but were unsure if he’d suit up this season. With Utah’s football season ending late last month, Lohner made his choice and practiced twice with the Runnin’ Utes before playing his first game at the Huntsman Center.
“You can tell he’s a little rusty, just trying to get back into basketball shape and trying to understand what we do,” Smith said. “My gosh, he’s had two practices, and we didn’t really know if he’d be in the first of the two. He’s trying to absorb a lot.”
In time, Smith sees a bigger role for Lohner.
“We’re going to be able to help him with things offensively,” the coach said. “I think he can play multiple positions. We’re going to be able to expose some mismatches, but it’s hard when we are doing it so quickly.”
Utah guard Miro Little, who played with Lohner last season at Baylor, was glad to see him back on a basketball court.
“I missed my brother. I definitely did,” Little said. “He helps a lot. He’s a fighter like everybody else on this team, so he fits perfectly.”
