Former BYU receiver on verge of record

While no BYU player cracks the top 250 in career receptions in the NFL, a former Cougar has the chance today to set that record north of the border.

With 1,003 career receptions, Ben Cahoon, former BYU wide receiver and current slotback for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League, is just four catches away from the CFL’s career receptions record. His next chance at the record comes today at 11 a.m. against the Calgary Stampeders.

Cahoon is only the second player in CFL history with 1,000 catches, but said the achievement isn’t his main focus.

“I haven’t really had time to dwell on it, but I am focused on getting more catches for my team,” he said.

Cahoon was born in Orem and attended Mountain View High School, but spent his childhood in southern Alberta. He served a mission in Philadelphia before playing two seasons at Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho).

He then transferred to BYU, collecting 57 catches for 931 yards and four touchdowns in two seasons. He was part of the 1996 team that defeated Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl.
After being passed over by the NFL, the Alouettes picked Cahoon as a non-import player in 1998. Now in his 13th season, he is a two-time CFL Most Outstanding Canadian, three-time CFL all-star and has won two CFL championships.

Cahoon switched from wide receiver at BYU to slotback with the Alouettes. A slotback is a halfback with the motion of a receiver. Being a consistent slotback like Cahoon is tough work, since the position handles throws over the middle, which can result in painful tackles.
“The position calls for you to go through traffic like linebackers,” said the 38-year-old Cahoon. “It’s just the nature of the position.”

Cahoon credits much of his success to his quarterback, former Utah State Aggie Anthony Calvillo, who has thrown around 90 percent of Cahoon’s catches, and counting.

“We’ve been playing together for 13 years so we’ve established good chemistry,” Cahoon said. “He knows what I’m doing and where I’m gonna go.”

After the 2008 season, Cahoon became the first Alouette receiver with seven-consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, a testament to his consistency.

“I just try to do my best every day in practice and in games,” he said. “It shows what can happen when you stick to something and work hard and persist. It shows that consistency is more important than greatness, because I definitely haven’t been the most phenomenal, talented receiver.”

Cahoon’s coaches are excited to see what he can do the rest of the year.
“We’re excited for him,” Alouettes coach Marc Trestman told the Canadian Press. “When a player is durable, dependable, reliable and a team guy, what more can you ask?”
Cahoon lives in Cedar Hills in the offseason with his wife, Kim, and their four daughters.

[url]http://universe.byu.edu/node/11338