He has the stomach for it

The talk that night in February -- on Valentine's Day -- was about the start of spring football practice and what changes the new coaching staff at Boston College would bring. For running back L.V. Whitworth and wide receiver Kevin Challenger, it was more than idle chatter. The two Eagles had moved in lock step at The Heights. They each red-shirted in 2003 and developed their athletic careers in stages, which they hoped would lead to a giant leap forward in their senior season.

But on this night, something wasn't right.

"I wasn't feeling good," said Challenger, who came to BC from Montreal and whose résumé included three years of prep school in the Canadian system. "I knew something was wrong. I tried drinking some Powerade. I got this feeling in my chest and my back. I couldn't move."

Panic? No, but there was enough concern that Whitworth called an ambulance and Challenger was taken to St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Brighton, where he was diagnosed with a ruptured esophagus.

"They told me I had acid reflux really bad," said Challenger, who with his teammates is running through the first football drills of preseason camp this week. "They said the acid in my stomach was eating away at my esophagus. It was really weak and it was bound to go, and that's exactly what happened."

What also happened was that Challenger, who was looking forward to a larger role in the up-tempo offense that new coach Jeff Jagodzinski and new offensive coordinator Steve Logan were implementing, was in the hospital for a month.

"No food, no drink, just an IV," said Challenger, who lost more than 15 pounds from a 5-foot-9 inch, 180-pound frame. "They had me on the IVs, but my stomach was starving."

Gone was spring practice, gone was almost the entire semester as Challenger tried to recover without surgery.

By the end of spring, Challenger was healthy again, eager to resume a football career that never really followed a conventional path.

Challenger grew up just outside of Montreal playing baseball -- not football, not hockey.

"I didn't play football until I was 17," he said with a smile. "I played sports, but they don't play high school football. It's a town team.

"One day one of my buddies called me up and asked me to go to football practice with him. The coach comes up and says, 'Do you play football?' I told him I didn't. He said go out and run a go route. I did" -- he caught the pass -- "and I've been playing ever since."

Challenger played football for almost an entire year before his parents learned about it.

"One day the coach called and said, 'I just want to make sure Kevin is at practice today,' " said Challenger. "My mother said, 'Kevin doesn't play football.' "

But he did, and he did it well enough to get into the Canadian system, which sends players from high school to college (prep schools) to university.

"In Quebec, high school goes to 11th grade," said Challenger, who went from high school to Vanier College, where he spent three years learning how to play wide receiver. By the end of his second year, Challenger had the attention of Rutgers, Syracuse, and BC.

BC sent an assistant coach, Jerry Petercuskie, to get an up-close look. When BC offered a scholarship, Challenger said yes.

"I immediately committed to Boston College," said Challenger. "I always wanted to play college football in the States. I was in heaven."

Challenger has gotten better each season. Last year he led the Eagles with 47 receptions and tied for the team lead with five touchdown catches.

With the departure of Tony Gonzalez, Challenger figures to be quarterback Matt Ryan's go-to guy. Challenger also got an ego boost in May when the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League drafted him 14th overall.

But Challenger still has visions of the NFL. At 25, he is ready to go from being a student to starting a career, perhaps in football. But, for now, just being in camp is enough.

"It feels like my first camp," said Challenger. "I'm looking forward to it. New coaches, new system."

Mark Blaudschun can be reached at blaudschun@globe.com.