Kaleb Blaha
Kaleb Blaha is an American college football quarterback for the Wisconsin–River Falls Falcons of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in NCAA Division III. He previously attended Winona State University, where he played as a wide receiver.
Blaha led the Falcons to their first NCAA Division III national championship in 2025, earning Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl MVP honors. He won the 2025 Gagliardi Trophy as the most outstanding player in Division III football and was named a finalist for the Manning Award, becoming the first Division III quarterback ever to receive the honor.
Early life and high school
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.College career
Winona State
Blaha began his college career at Winona State University, where he played as a wide receiver from 2020 to 2021.Wisconsin–River Falls
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.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.
In 2024, he suffered a season-ending injury after three games and received a medical redshirt.
In 2025, Blaha had a historic senior season:
- Led the Falcons to a WIAC championship and their first NCAA Division III national title, defeating North Central 24–14 in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.
- Named Stagg Bowl MVP.
- Set the NCAA all-divisions single-season total offense record with 6,189 yards.
- Won the Gagliardi Trophy.
- Earned Offensive Player of the Year honors from the Associated Press and D3football.com.
- Received first-team All-American recognition from multiple organizations.
- Became a Manning Award finalist.
- Broke numerous program and conference records in passing and total offense.