Wes Welker

[PonyFan]

Remember the WR/KR deom TTU who gave us (and everyone else) fits for what seemed like 100 years? He's a free agent who got cut (by San Diego, I think) and signed with the Dolphins. Today he returned kickoffs and punts, KICKED a 29-yard FG (!) and kicked off - and made the tackle on a kickoff return. Amazing performance. I'm glad he's out of Lubbock, but that guy had a hell of a day.

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

I heard Wes Welker really wanted to come play at SMU but Cavan did not offer him a scholarship. Someone close to the SMU program knew his family and said that Wes was set on attending SMU but Cavan had other ideas.

In 2003 Wes Welker was named preseason All-America third team as a punt returner (NationalChamps.net, Athlon) ... No. 2-rated all-purpose back nationally and preseason Big 12 first team entering the 2003 season (Lindy’s) ... one of three players nationally carrying a nation’s best 34-game reception streak into 2003 ... caught five passes for 79 yards in the spring game.

In 2002 Wes Welker was named AP All-Big 12 first team (all-purpose) and third team (wide receiver) Big 12 Coaches second team ... set an NCAA single-season record with 57 punt returns ... set the Tech single-season punt return yardage mark with his fourth return against Iowa State and finished the season with 752 yards ... third in Big 12 and 18th nationally with 146.8 all-purpose yards per game ... second on the team in receiving with 86 receptions and a team-leading 1,054 yards ... only second player in school history to record a 1,000 receiving yards in a season (Lloyd Hill, 1992) ... ranks third all-time at Tech and is third in the Big 12 with 162 career pass receptions ... also in second place at Tech in career punt returns (119) and is second in career punt return yards (1,376) ... ranks third in the Big 12 in career punt returns and second in career punt return yards ... also ranks second in the league with six punt return touchdowns for his career ... closed the season with 137 all-purpose yards in bowl win over Clemson ... returned five punts against the Tigers, including his third of the season for a touchdown on a 59-yard return ... also rushed for 30 yards and had 20 receiving yards ... rushed three times for 15 yards and had three receptions for 38 yards at Oklahoma ... had a stellar game against No. 3 Texas as he finished the game with 251 all-purpose yards (169 receiving, 44 yards rushing and 38 yards on punt returns) and two touchdowns ... finished the Oklahoma State game with 165 all-purpose yards, including 17 rushing, 71 receiving and 77 punt return yards ... also scored on a reception ... turned in 122 all-purpose yards against Baylor ... logged 18 rushing yards, 63 receiving yards and 41 punt return yards ... had 19 yards on three returns against Colorado ... also caught three passes for 20 yards ... had three receptions for 43 yards and a carry for four yards against Missouri ... also returned two punts 18 yards ... credited with five rushes for 36 yards and nine receptions for 84 yards at ISU ... also returned five punts for 51 yards against Iowa State ... turned in best collegiate performance against Texas A&M ... had 327 all-purpose yards (41 rushing, 120 receiving and 166 punt return) ... also returned his fifth career punt for a touchdown and scored on a touchdown reception ... 88-yard punt return against the Aggies was the longest ever allowed by a Texas A&M team ... had six receptions for 58 yards at New Mexico ... also returned seven punts ... rushed three times for 29 yards and caught five passes for 58 yards against N.C. State ... also returned four punts for 78 yards and finished the game with 165 all-purpose yards ... returned a punt 72 yards for a touchdown in win over Ole Miss ... also caught four passes for 40 yards and had a rush for five ... finished the UM game with 114 punt return yards ... turned in career receiving game with 153 yards on nine catches at SMU ... finished the game with 164 all-purpose yards ... opened the season with 117 receiving yards on five catches with touchdowns at Ohio State.

[2112]

I have heard that story a few times too!

[WreckEm16]

Nobody offered that kid a scholarship at first - Tech finally tossed one at him because one of our other recruits had decommited in favor of Alabama right before signing day.

I used to love watching that unrecruited 5'9 white kid make 4 and 5 star blue chip studs look like their feet were nailed to the ground.

But the part about Wes I really loved was what he did after he scored... ran to the ref, handed him the ball, and got off the field. No dancing, no taunting, not even so much as a fist pump.

That's not just heart, that's character. God I hope he makes it in the NFL.

[PonyPride]

Agreed. A lot of PonyFans are a little anti-TT after the opener this year, but Welker is a great player who did/does things the right way. Good luck to him.

[ALEX LIFESON]

I agree WreckEm, he is a class kid and was fun to watch.