Kaleb Blaha
| Profile | |
|---|---|
| Position | Quarterback |
| Personal information | |
| Born | 2001 (age 24–25) Coon Rapids, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Listed weight | 201 lb (91 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Fridley (Fridley, Minnesota) |
| College |
|
| Awards and highlights | |
| |
Kaleb Blaha is an American football quarterback. He previously played college football at Winona State University, where he played as a wide receiver, and Wisconsin–River Falls, where he played as a quarterback.
Blaha led the Falcons to their first NCAA Division III national championship in 2025, earning Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl MVP honors.[1] He won the 2025 Gagliardi Trophy as the most outstanding player in Division III football[2] and was named a finalist for the Manning Award, becoming the first Division III quarterback ever to receive the honor.[3][4]
Early life
[edit]Blaha attended Fridley High School in Fridley, Minnesota, where he played quarterback. As a senior in 2019, he passed for 1,503 yards and 21 touchdowns while rushing for 821 yards and 21 scores, leading the team to a 10–1 record and a state tournament appearance.[5][6]
College career
[edit]Winona State
[edit]Blaha began his college career at Division II Winona State University where he played as a wide receiver from 2020 to 2021.[5]
Wisconsin–River Falls
[edit]Blaha transferred to the University of Wisconsin–River Falls in 2022 and transitioned back to quarterback. He became the starting quarterback and helped transform the program, which had not had a winning season since 2000.[6][7][8]
In 2023, Blaha was a Gagliardi Trophy semifinalist, earned multiple All-American and All-WIAC honors, and set program records with 3,882 yards of total offense and 22 rushing touchdowns.[5][2]
In 2024, he suffered a season-ending injury after three games and received a medical redshirt.[5]
In 2025, Blaha had a historic senior season:
- Led the Falcons to a WIAC championship (first since 1998) and their first NCAA Division III national title, defeating North Central (IL) 24–14 in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.[1][9][10][11]
- Named Stagg Bowl MVP.[1]
- Set the NCAA all-divisions single-season total offense record with 6,189 yards (surpassing Joe Burrow's 6,039 in 2019).[1][12]
- Won the Gagliardi Trophy (Division III's Heisman equivalent).[2][13]
- Earned Offensive Player of the Year honors from the Associated Press and D3football.com.[5][2]
- Received first-team All-American recognition from multiple organizations.[5][2]
- Became a Manning Award finalist (first D-III player ever).[3][4]
- Broke numerous program and conference records in passing and total offense.[5][2]
Off the field, Blaha is a health and physical education major with a 3.337 GPA, he earned WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll recognition, and he participated in community service initiatives.[13][2]
Professional career
[edit]After going undrafted in the 2026 NFL draft, Blaha was invited to the New Orleans Saints rookie minicamp.[14] Upon starting camp, Blaha was switched from his quarterback position, to wide receiver.[15]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 "UW-River Falls upsets North Central for DIII title as Kaleb Blaha breaks Joe Burrow's record". The Athletic. January 5, 2026. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "2025 Gagliardi Trophy, Presented by Stearns Bank, Recipient is UW-River Falls' Kaleb Blaha". Saint John's University Athletics. January 2, 2026. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- 1 2 "Wisconsin-River Falls' Kaleb Blaha joins top D1 QBs as finalist for Manning Award". Pioneer Press. January 8, 2026. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- 1 2 "UW-River Falls' Blaha Named A Manning Award Finalist". Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. January 8, 2026. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Kaleb Blaha - 2025 - Football". University of Wisconsin River Falls Athletics. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- 1 2 "Fridley's Blaha quarterbacks Wisconsin-River Falls football to national championship". hometownsource.com. January 12, 2026. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ↑ "Wisconsin-River Falls football: How a coach's faith helped Kaleb Blaha become D3's best". Pioneer Press. January 2, 2026. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ↑ "Wisconsin-River Falls football: How a coach's faith helped Kaleb Blaha become D3's best". Yahoo Sports. January 2, 2026. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ↑ "Blaha, Wisconsin-River Falls beats defending champion North Central 24-14 for D-III title". Spectrum News. January 5, 2026. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ↑ "Blaha, UW-River Falls beats defending champion North Central 24-14 for D-III title". MPR News. January 5, 2026. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ↑ Vannini, Chris (January 5, 2026). "UW-River Falls upsets North Central for DIII title as Kaleb Blaha breaks Joe Burrow's record". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Wisconsin quarterback awarded Division 3's most outstanding player". Fox 11. January 3, 2026. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- 1 2 "UWRF's Blaha wins Gagliardi Trophy as D3 football's best player". WEAU. January 2, 2026. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ↑ Sigler, John (April 26, 2026). "Record-breaking QB Kaleb Blaha to try out at Saints rookie minicamp". Saints Wire. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
- ↑ Walker, Rod (May 8, 2026). "Kaleb Blaha, winner of D-III's version of the Heisman, switches to WR as Saints' tryout player". nola.com. Archived from the original on May 10, 2026. Retrieved June 6, 2026.