For
years, people have looked past Wes Welker.
"You look at me on a piece of paper and I don't look like much
at all," Welker once told the Boston Globe. "Put me on a
field with a bunch of guys who like to play ball, and it's a whole
different story."
But still, at just 5-foot-9, 185 pounds, he's had trouble convincing
critics. In high school, he was the Oklahoma state player of the year,
but he was deemed too small to be a good Division 1 college player,
and only got a chance at Texas Tech after another wide receiver backed
out of a scholarship.
At Texas Tech, Welker became known as "The Natural" for
his clutch presence in big moments, and finished his career as a Red
Raider with more than 3,000 yards receiving and 21 touchdowns. He
also tied an NCAA record with eight career punt returns for touchdowns.
Still, he was ignored in the National Football League draft, and after
signing with the San Diego Chargers as a free agent, he was cut.
Welker managed to surface with the Miami Dolphins, where despite
rumors of him being cut each year, he worked his way up the ladder
from a special teams player to the team's most reliable wide receiver.
This past season, he led the Dolphins with 67 catches for 687 yards.
"It happens a lot. People say, 'If only he was faster, if only
he was bigger, if only he had longer arms,'" Texas Tech coach
Mike Leach told the Globe, "and as they're talking, he's making
another great play."
Through all this, Welker has become the picture of perseverance and
determination, always working hard to drastically exceed expectations.
This off-season, the New England Patriots acquired Welker from Miami,
and he's already drawing comparisons to longtime Patriot Troy Brown,
who has come to define New England's dynasty.
