When Auburn WR/TE Sal Cannella made his now-famous leaping catch in the back corner of the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown from quarterback Jarrett Stidham, he was thrust into the limelight from relative obscurity.

Not only did it get the Tigers on the scoreboard first in Saturday’s 21-16 victory over Washington, it was Cannella’s first career touchdown reception at Auburn after he caught just three passes for 31 yards all of last season.

As he said it: “Put in YEARS for THIS.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnPmU4NHU2_/?utm_source=ig_twitter_share&igshid=1s46vwkjmy2hx

Never mind that it was Stidham’s 19th career TD pass at Auburn, or that it accounted for Auburn scoring first for the 17th time in the last 19 games (the Tigers are now 35-11 under head coach Gus Malzahn when scoring first).

Ignore the fact that Auburn’s win over No. 6 Washington was just the Tigers’ second victory all-time in nine season openers against ranked opponents, and that the Huskies are the highest-ranked opponent that Auburn has ever defeated in a season opener. The Tigers tamed No. 8 Tennessee in Knoxville to begin the 1957 national championship season.

No, what we’re here to focus on are five things to know about the 6-5, 232-pound junior from Schaumburg, Ill.

1.That hair, though

As famous as that incredible catch is becoming, it’s Cannella’s hair that grabbed all the notable attention.

The long locks are quickly becoming his trademark, with social media blowing up over it.

https://twitter.com/davebriggstv/status/1035980235605528576

2. Has a 6 degree black belt in karate

Don’t mess with this guy … or his hair. Cannella isn’t your average pumped-up football player. He’s quick and agile, as displayed in the big play on Saturday.

3. Basketball background

An all-conference and all-area basketball player at St. Viator (Ill.) High School, Cannella used those hops to make that spectacular catch on Saturday, one he said he knew he would make.

https://twitter.com/jeff_shearer/status/1036051282233110529

4. A standout tight end in junior college

While a relative nobody at Auburn prior to Saturday, Cannella certainly made a name for himself at Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College. A first team all-Western States Football League/Arizona Community College Arizona Conference, and an ESPN top-rated JUCO tight end, Cannella hauled in 29 passes for 449 yards and seven touchdowns during the 2016 season.

5. First reception and start at Auburn

Cannella made his first pass reception as an Auburn Tiger in the 2017 season opener against Georgia Southern. It was good for 19 yards in the 41-7 triumph. He got his first start last year at LSU after enrolling at Auburn in January of that year. He made one catch at Tiger Stadium, good for 7 yards.