Topic: Wes Welker

Wesley Carter "Wes" Welker (born May 1, 1981 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) is an American football wide receiver for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. He played college football at Texas Tech.

Despite being undrafted, Welker has had a successful career to date. Only one player in NFL history, Gale Sayers, had more all-purpose yards in his first three NFL seasons than Welker did with the Dolphins; Welker holds the Dolphins' all-time records for total kickoff returns, kickoff return yardage, and total punt returns. Welker, who led the league in receptions in 2007 (tied with T.J. Houshmandzadeh) and 2009, also holds the three highest single season reception totals in Patriots history, and is the only receiver in NFL history to record at least 110 receptions in three consecutive seasons (and, in fact, in any three seasons). He has also been selected to the Pro Bowl and/or All-Pro Team in each of his first three seasons with the Patriots.

Welker(TE) started his football career at Heritage Hall School in Oklahoma City, where he and Graham Colton were teammates. In his junior year, he helped lead his team to the 2A State Football championship over Tishomingo High School; in that game, Welker had three touchdowns, over 200 all-purpose yards, a 47-yard field goal, and an interception. Also, in 1999 he was named The Daily Oklahoman All-State Player of the Year, and Oklahoma State Player of the Year by USA Today. Welker played in the 2000 Oil Bowl, scoring a 40-yard field goal for the Oklahoma team. Out of high school, Welker was not recruited much as he was considered to be too small to play at the college level. However, after a recruit at Texas Tech backed out of his scholarship, it was offered to Welker. Said Welker of the experience: