Kaleb Blaha put up jaw-dropping numbers this past season at Division III Wisconsin-River Falls.
He threw for 4,971 yards and 41 touchdowns and rushed for another 1,218 yards and 18 touchdowns.
His 6,189 yards of total offense is the most of any player on any level of football. Ever,
It broke the old mark of 6,039 yards by Joe Burrow during LSU's magical season six years ago.
And like Burrow, Blaha got some nice hardware to go with his stellar season.
Blaha won the Gagliardi Trophy, the Division III equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.
And like Blaha, Burrow led his team to a national title as Wisconsin-River Falls won the Division III crown.
Now Blaha is hoping to fight the long odds and make an NFL roster. He’s one of 30 tryout players at the New Orleans Saints rookie minicamp.
“I want to show that I can play at this level,” Blaha said after Friday’s practice. “Just putting my best foot forward and giving my best shot. Make the most of the opportunity and trust that if it’s meant to be, it’ll be.”
Blaha won’t get to show off his arm that threw for over 11,000 yards in college. He’s getting a tryout as receiver, a position he hasn’t played since his freshman year at Winona State, a D-II school in Minnesota. He transferred to Wisconsin-River the following year and moved to quarterback, the position he played as a junior and senior in high school. Now he’s headed back to receiver.
“I’ve always been an athlete,” Blaha said. “I love playing receiver and I’ll do whatever it takes. I haven’t done it in four or five years. I’ve been practicing and trying to get into it. Obviously there’s a lot to clean up with it. It’s new and exciting and I’m all for it.”
Getting to go from a tryout player to getting a contract won’t be easy, especially considering the Saints drafted three receivers in April. But at least he gets to show what he can do in front of some NFL eyes.
“We understand the rosters are limited and those are challenging opportunities to fight,” said Saints’ head coach Kellen Moore. “But every season, there are stories with guys that have tryouts and opportunities that earn their way with meaningful roles in the future.”
Blaha would like to be the latest example and watch his football career continue.
His last game was in Canton, Ohio at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, site of the Division III championship game. He was named MVP of the title game after the stunning upset of defending champion North Central.
That title run helped him to be named a finalist for the Manning Award. That award, given to the nation’s best collegiate quarterback, takes into consideration postseason performance. Blaha is the first Division III player to be named a finalist for the Manning Award. While he didn’t win that one, he won the most prestigious award for a Division III player.
“It was a dream come true,” Blaha said. “When you’re a football player, you want to win the biggest and best award. Being at the D-III level and playing the last couple years, I always wanted to win it. So when I finally got that it’s just a blessing and I’m grateful for it.”
Now he’s hoping he can make another dream come true by getting a shot with an NFL team. Friday was a thrill for him as he walked into the locker room and saw pictures on the wall of past Saints' greats like Drew Brees and Reggie Bush.
“And even seeing the lockers of people on the team now like Chase Young and Kool-Aid McKinstry and people I have watched,” Baha said. “It’s crazy being in the same locker room as those guys.”
He's hoping he can beat the long odds and stick around.
“I love playing football,” Blaha said. “Any chance I get, I’m going to run with it. Just do everything I can to make the most of it.”