Difference between revisions of "Wes Welker"

Revision as of 16:37, June 20, 2007

Was Welker is a National Football League wide receiver for the New England Patriots. He was born on May 1, 1981. He is 5 foot 11 (tall) and weighs 185 pounds.

High School Football

Wes Welker attended and played football for Heritage Hall High School in Oklahoma City. He played both running back and defense back. Scored 90 total touchdowns in his four years with Heritage....

College Football Career

From 2000 to 2003 Wes Welker played football for the Texas Tech Red Raiders. He was the NCAA’s best punt returner in college football history. In his four years with the Raiders he had 152 punts returns for 1,761 yards and eight touchdowns. He also set school records for receiving yardage and receptions. As a junior Wes caught 86 passes for 1054 and 7 touchdowns. In his senior season Wes’s yardage dropped but he increased his totals in both catches and touchdowns with 90 receptions for 992 yards and 9 touchdowns. In his four years with Texas Tech he caught 238 passes for 2962 yards and 21 touchdowns.

NFL Career

In 2004 Wes Welker entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent. He signed with the San Diego Chargers and made the team. Wes played in the season opener with the Chargers but was cut from the roster shortly after the game. Once again Welker was a free agent and he next signed with the Miami Dolphins. Surprisingly enough, he played in all 15 of their regular season games in 2004 as a kick and punt returner. In the 2004 week four matchup vs the New England Patriots, Welker made the NFL record books. Due to the Dolphins kicker Olindo Mare injuring himself before the game began - Wes Welker became the first player in NFL history to return a punt and kickoff and also kick the kickoffs and complete an extra point and a (29 yard)field goal. He ended the 2004 season statically with 61 kickoff returns for 1415 yards and a touchdown; he also had 43 punt returns for 464 yards. The following 2005 and 2006 season were equally if not more productive for Welker as he expanded his role on the team from just returning punts and kicks to also playing wide receiver. In the 2005 and 2006 seasons combined, he caught 96 passes for 1121 yards. Spending more time playing wide receiver didn't stop Welker from still be very effective as a punt and kick returner. In 2005 he gained 1379 yards on 61 kick returns and in 2006 he returned 48 kicks for 1064 yards. On the punting side, he had a total of 84 punt returns for 768 yards during the 2005 through 2006 seasons. By the end of the 2006 season he was Maimi's all time leader in kickoff yardage and returns and second a time in punt yardage and returns. Amazingly durable, Welker in his three seasons in the NFL,has never missed a game due to a injury.

The March 2007 free agency brought a change of teams for Welker. On March 6, 2007, he was traded from the Dolphins to the New England Patriots for New England's second and seventh round 2007 NFL Draft choices. Shortly following the trade the Patriots signed to a five-year, $18.1 million contract that included a $9 million signing bonus. He will wear number 83 with the Patriots.

NFL Stats

Related Sites

• NFL Stats

• His Faith

Source Material

• Patriots Bio

• ESPN - Welker signs with Patriots

• College Stats

• 2002 Texas Stats