Latest news with #Lohner
USA Today
25-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Caleb Lohner's traits excite Broncos coach Sean Payton
Caleb Lohner's traits excite Broncos coach Sean Payton With their final pick in the 2025 NFL draft, the Denver Broncos made an unconventional selection, picking Utah tight end Caleb Lohner, a basketball player with just four career receptions as a tight end. Speaking at rookie minicamp earlier this month, Broncos coach Sean Payton was asked what he's seen from the Lohner so far. 'It's limited," Payton said. "So this is a basketball player for most of his career. He plays a year of football, count the snaps, count the catches. I get it. Yet you see traits, you see movements. I'm not a big fan of the Big 12 Pro Day because a player like him gets six routes instead of 20 that he would get at his own Pro Day. So hopefully that's going away, but there are two or three clips where I'm like, 'Play it again. Play it again.' Then, when you watch him, and you watch him move, and even in our first two days here, [you see promise]. "People bring up Jimmy [Graham as a comparison]. Now, Jimmy was a third-round pick. I get it, but there were some similarities in that. He only played a year, 80-something snaps. I think he had 18 catches. So yes, we have to coach and develop. In other words, if it was already present when you watch him, and you guys see him, and shake his hand and stand next to him, like, 'Holy cow.' There are traits there that excite me. Then just visiting with him, and his intentionality and his excitement about it. I'm excited to watch it.' Lohner (6-7, 250 pounds) has been connected to Graham because he's a converted basketball player in Payton's offense, but the rookie isn't quite ready to make that connection himself. 'I think our size is the same, but I have a long way to go," Lohner said when asked about his similarities to Graham. "I have to keep learning and growing every day in this game.' After attending rookie minicamp earlier this month, Lohner will return for organized team activities later this week. 'It's an amazing experience, an amazing opportunity," Lohner said at rookie camp. "All I want to do here is improve every day [and] learn the game of football. I think this is the best place for it. I'm excited to take [on] each and every day the next steps.' Lohner will be a long shot to make the team's 53-man roster in 2025, but he'll get a chance. It's up to him to take advanatage of it this summer. Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
USA Today
30-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Check out these highlights of new Broncos TE Caleb Lohner
Check out these highlights of new Broncos TE Caleb Lohner The Denver Broncos used their final pick (241st overall) in the 2025 NFL draft to select University of Utah tight end Caleb Lohner last Saturday. Lohner (6-7, 256 pounds) became a two-sport athlete at Utah in 2025, when he played basketball and football for the Utes. In college, Lohner played at three Big 12 schools for basketball: the BYU Cougars, Baylor Bears and Utah. Lohner came mostly off the bench in basketball, but played his only year of football in 2024. In 2024, Lohner only caught four passes for 56 yards... and four touchdowns. You read that right, all four of Lohner's catches went for touchdowns. Perhaps the Broncos were impressed by his size. Coach Sean Payton believes he may become a new receiving threat for quarterback Bo Nix. Although Denver's recent draft history at tight end has not gone according to plan (Greg Dulcich in the 2022 NFL draft following Albert Okwuegbunam in the 2020 NFL draft), the team is hoping it can develop Lohner into an NFL-caliber tight end. As a seventh-round pick, he's a low-risk, high-upside prospect. There is a precedent for tight ends who previously played basketball, including 2025 Hall of Fame inductee Antonio Gates. Hopefully the Broncos will see some great play out of the former basketball player. Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
USA Today
28-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ranking Big 12 schools by their 2025 NFL Draft selections
Ranking Big 12 schools by their 2025 NFL Draft selections The 2025 NFL draft was dominated by players from Power Four conferences, the SEC and Big 10 led the pack with over 70 players each. Last of all the top conferences was the Big 12, which produced the same amount of NFL players as last year, with 31 draftees. This group was headlined by Colorado's Travis Hunter selected at No. 2 overall and Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan at No. 8. The Buffs had an impressive draft class and ended up leading all teams with the most wide receivers drafted with three. Several teams had the same amount of players drafted, so the highest selection breaks the tie in our rankings. Here are all the schools in the Big 12 ranked by how many players they had drafted this year: Teams without a drafted player Three of the Big 12's 16 schools went without any of their players being selected in the draft. For Baylor, it's the second straight draft without a prospect being selected, the Bears' last draftee was defensive tackle Siaki Ika in 2023. Two of the newest members of the conference BYU and Houston both had a player drafted in 2024 but did not this season. 13. Cincinnati - 1 Player(s) drafted: OL John Williams (pick No. 250) by the Green Bay Packers Since 2016, the Cincinnati Bearcats have had a player drafted into the NFL which looked like the streak might end until Williams was selected in the seventh round. As a Bearcat, Williams started 24 straight games to finish his career and was ranked as the fourth-best tackle in the Big 12 by Pro Football Focus. 12. Utah - 1 Player(s) drafted: TE Caleb Lohner (pick No. 241) by the Denver Broncos After catching just four passes in college, which all went for touchdowns, Lohner became the lone Ute drafted in 2025. Lohner played basketball for BYU and Baylor before transferring to Utah where he played both basketball and football. 11. Arizona State - 1 Player(s) drafted: RB Cam Skattebo (pick No. 105) by the New York Giants Skattebo was the driving force behind Arizona State's Big 12 title surge last season, capping it off with an impressive performance in the Sun Devils' loss in the Peach Bowl. The transfer out of Sacramento State totaled 2,494 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns as a Sun Devil. 10. West Virginia - 1 Player(s) drafted: OL Wyatt Milum (pick No. 89) by the Jacksonville Jaguars A consensus All-American last season, Milum started all but four games in his four years as a Mountaineer. More impressive was his two-year stretch without allowing a sack, only allowing one in two of his final 36 games for West Virginia. 9. Kansas - 2 Player(s) drafted: RB Devin Neal (pick No. 184) by the New Orleans Saints OL Bryce Cabeldue (pick No. 192) by the Seattle Seahawks A pair of sixth-round selections, Neal and Cabeldue had impressive Jayhawk careers. Cabeldue started all 12 games at tackle for Kansas last season, while behind him, Neal became the school's all-time career rushing leader with 4,343 rushing yards and 49 touchdowns across four seasons. 8. Texas Tech - 2 Player(s) drafted: OL Caleb Rodgers (pick No. 98) by the Las Vegas Raiders RB Tahj Brooks (pick No. 193) to the Cincinnati Bengals First off the board for the Red Raiders was Rodgers, who started 55 consecutive games on Texas Tech's offensive line, the second most in school history. Brooks played five seasons at Texas Tech, etching his name into the Red Raiders' record books with 4,369 rushing yards and 42 touchdowns. 7. UCF - 2 Player(s) drafted: RB RJ Harvey (pick No. 60) by the Denver Broncos CB Mac McWilliams (pick No. 145) by the Philadelphia Eagles Harvey was the fifth running back off the board and for those Big 12 fans who have watched him, it's no wonder why. The first-team All-Big 12 selection has totaled almost 3,000 rushing yards and 38 touchdowns over the last two seasons. McWilliams started 11 games for the Knights last season after transferring in from UAB, snagging his lone interception against Sam Houston. 6. TCU - 2 Player(s) drafted: WR Jack Bech (pick No. 58) by the Las Vegas Raiders WR Savion Williams (pick No. 87) by the Green Bay Packers TCU's top two receivers from last season found their new homes over the weekend. A transfer from LSU, Bech showed out in his senior season with 60 catches for over 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns. Bech was a standout at the Resse's Senior Bowl, which boosted his draft stock significantly. Williams has been a gadget force for the Horned Frogs for years, adding on six rushing and receiving touchdowns, respectfully, last season. 5. Kansas State - 3 Player(s) drafted: CB Jacob Parrish (pick No. 84) by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB DJ Giddens (pick No. 151) by the Indianapolis Colts S Marques Sigle (pick No. 160) by the San Francisco 49ers A physical corner, Parrish was a tackling machine at Kansas State, ending with 108 total in his career with 19 pass breakups. He started 12 games alongside Sigle, who similarly to Parrish is a speedy physical player. Sigle finished his two-year stint with 123 tackles with 9.5 tackles for loss. Giddens posted an impressive 9.78 Relative Athletic Score in the pre-draft process after running for 1,343 yards and 17 touchdowns last season. 4. Oklahoma State - 4 Player(s) drafted: LB Nick Martin - No. 75 by the San Francisco 49ers DE Collin Oliver - No. 159 by the Green Bay Packers RB Ollie Gordon II - No. 179 by the Miami Dolphins CB Korie Black - No. 246 by the New York Giants Martin will be returning from an MCL injury that forced him to miss most of the 2024 season, but in 2023 the linebacker was a force to be reckoned with, recording 140 tackles. Oliver also missed most of last season with an injury, but the team captain dominated in 2023 with six sacks and 15 tackles for loss. Gordon was supremely hyped up going into last season after an incredible 1,700-yard season in 2023, but the back underperformed in 2024. While he scored 13 times, Gordon didn't come close to 1,000 yards, not even eclipsing 900. Black joined Gordon as a starter of all of the Cowboy's 12 games, recording three interceptions and 36 tackles. 3. Iowa State - 4 Player(s) drafted: WR Jayden Higgins - No. 34 by the Houston Texans CB Darien Porter - No. 68 by the Las Vegas Raiders WR Jaylin Noel - No. 79 by the Houston Texans OL Jalen Travis - No. 127 by the Indianapolis Colts The Texans called on the Cyclones for their top two pass catchers, with Higgins and Noel providing steady hands and big play ability. Last season, the duo combined for 2,377 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns which helped lead the Cyclones to the Big 12 title game. Porter moved to corner in 2022 after three seasons at wide receiver and since has totaled 51 tackles, nine pass breakups and three interceptions, all of which came last season. After missing the first two games of last season, Travis steadied the Cyclones for the next 12 games which helped him earn an Honorable Mention on the All-Big 12 offensive line. 2. Arizona - 4 Player(s) drafted: WR Tetairoa McMillan - No. 8 by the Carolina Panthers OL Jonah Savaiinaea - No. 37 by the Miami Dolphins K Tyler Loop - No. 186 by the Baltimore Ravens RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt - No. 245 by the Washington Commanders McMillan is one of two Big 12 players to be selected in the top 10 this year and it's not hard to see why. As a Wildcat, he racked up over 1,000 yards each of his last two seasons, adding 18 scores on top of regular 100-yard games. Savaiinaea provided much-needed versatility to the offensive line and had the highest PFF grade of any Wildcat last season. Loop made 78% of his kicks last season with the highlight of them a school-record 62-yarder against Houston. The New Mexico transfer, Croskey-Merritt, only appeared in one game for Arizona but broke 100 yards in his lone outing. 1. Colorado - 4 Player(s) drafted: WR/CB Travis Hunter - No. 2 by the Jacksonville Jaguars QB Shedeur Sander - No. 144 by the Cleveland Browns WR LaJohntay Wester - No. 203 by the Baltimore Ravens WR Jimmy Horn Jr. - No. 208 by the Carolina Panthers While Hunter needs no introduction, it bears repeating how ridiculous he was last season. The No. 2 overall pick racked up almost 100 catches, 1,258 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns on offense, while adding 35 tackles, 11 passes defensed and four interceptions on defense. In a historic slide, Sanders wound up in Cleveland after the best season of his collegiate career, where he threw for over 4,000 yards, 47 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions. The main contributor behind Hunter, Wester used his speed to add 931 yards and another 10 touchdowns. The USF transfer, Horn Jr. rounded out the Buffaloes' wide receiver room last season with 441 yards and 37 catches. Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Broncos drafted Caleb Lohner after he played just 57 snaps of college football
The most inexperienced player selected in the 2025 NFL draft was Utah tight end Caleb Lohner, who was drafted in the seventh round by the Broncos. How inexperienced is Lohner? "Fifty-seven plays," Broncos General Manager George Paton said after drafting him. Advertisement That's it. In the same draft as No. 2 overall pick Travis Hunter, who once played 149 snaps in a single game, Lohner was selected despite playing just 57 snaps in his college career. But Broncos head coach Sean Payton said the Broncos liked what they saw of Lohner, who played mostly basketball in college before joining the Utah football team for one season last year. "We're late in this draft and you're rooting for some guys, and you see upside," Payton said. "He's 6-7, 245. You can see the basketball skill set — that's easy — at a high level. You're looking at a small amount of playing time, and yet enough to where you're watching him. I think the other thing that helped was watching him at the Big 12 Pro Day. There's just a few plays that you see movement skills — and man, there's a lot to work with." Payton has experience coaching a college basketball player with limited football experience and helping him turn into an All-Pro tight end. That's what Payton did in New Orleans with Jimmy Graham, who played four years of basketball and one year of football in college at Miami before becoming one of the best tight ends in the NFL with the Saints. Expecting Lohner to become another Jimmy Graham might be too much to ask, but the Broncos think he might just become an NFL playmaker, even if he takes longer to develop than most.
NBC Sports
27-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Broncos drafted Caleb Lohner after he played just 57 snaps of college football
The most inexperienced player selected in the 2025 NFL draft was Utah tight end Caleb Lohner, who was drafted in the seventh round by the Broncos. How inexperienced is Lohner? 'Fifty-seven plays,' Broncos General Manager George Paton said after drafting him. That's it. In the same draft as No. 2 overall pick Travis Hunter, who once played 149 snaps in a single game, Lohner was selected despite playing just 57 snaps in his college career. But Broncos head coach Sean Payton said the Broncos liked what they saw of Lohner, who played mostly basketball in college before joining the Utah football team for one season last year. 'We're late in this draft and you're rooting for some guys, and you see upside,' Payton said. 'He's 6-7, 245. You can see the basketball skill set — that's easy — at a high level. You're looking at a small amount of playing time, and yet enough to where you're watching him. I think the other thing that helped was watching him at the Big 12 Pro Day. There's just a few plays that you see movement skills — and man, there's a lot to work with.' Payton has experience coaching a college basketball player with limited football experience and helping him turn into an All-Pro tight end. That's what Payton did in New Orleans with Jimmy Graham, who played four years of basketball and one year of football in college at Miami before becoming one of the best tight ends in the NFL with the Saints. Expecting Lohner to become another Jimmy Graham might be too much to ask, but the Broncos think he might just become an NFL playmaker, even if he takes longer to develop than most.
