LaJohntay Wester
{{Short description|American football player (born 2002)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = LaJohntay Wester
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| number =
| position = Wide receiver
| current_team = Baltimore Ravens
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2002|3|29|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Palmetto, Florida, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 10
| weight_lb = 163
| high_school = Palmetto
(Palmetto, Florida)
| college = {{ubl|Florida Atlantic (2020–2023)|Colorado (2024)}}
| draftyear = 2025
| draftround = 6
| draftpick = 203
| pastteams =
- Baltimore Ravens ({{NFL Year|2025}}–present)
| status = Unsigned draft pick
| highlights =
- First-team All-American (2023)
- AAC Special Teams Player of the Year (2023)
- First-team All-AAC (2023)
| statseason = 2025
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 =
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 =
| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue3 =
| pfr = WestLa01
}}
LaJohntay Wester (born March 29, 2002) is an American football wide receiver for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Colorado and Florida Atlantic.
High school career
Wester attended Palmetto High School in Palmetto, Florida.{{cite web | last=Dill | first=Jason | title=Meet the ‘Ice Gang.’ Palmetto High’s four senior wide receivers are as cool as ice | website=Bradenton Herald | date=2019-09-06 | url=https://www.bradenton.com/sports/high-school/prep-football/article234661312.html | access-date=2024-09-02}} As a senior, Wester hauled in 35 receptions for 758 yards and eight touchdowns before committing to play college football at Florida Atlantic University.{{Cite web |title=Palmetto High grad LaJohntay Wester emerges as Florida Atlantic's all-time leading receiver |url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/sports/college/football/2023/09/22/lajohntay-wester-now-florida-atlantics-all-time-leading-receiver/70911413007/ |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=Sarasota Herald-Tribune }}
College career
= FAU =
During his freshman season in 2020, Wester recorded 17 catches for 114 yards and a touchdown.{{Cite web |last=Furlow |first=Reese |title=FAU football: Freshman receiver LaJohntay Wester now running with the wolves |url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/sports/college/football/2021/10/20/fau-football-freshman-receiver-lajohntay-wester-now-running-wolves/8532641002/ |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=The Palm Beach Post }} He followed that up the next season, tallying 65 receptions for 702 yards and four touchdowns.{{Cite web |last=Priester |first=Cameron |title=FAU Football: Wide receiver LaJohntay Wester’s receiving ability helps him stand out from the rest |url=https://www.upressonline.com/2022/10/fau-football-wide-receiver-lajohntay-westers-receiving-ability-helps-him-stand-out-from-the-rest/ |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=University Press}}{{Cite web |last=Weinberger |first=Zach |title=Wester Brothers hoping to help FAU win Shula Bowl, become bowl eligible |url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/sports/college/football/2022/11/11/wester-brothers-excel-florida-atlantic-owls-football/8321097001/ |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=The Palm Beach Post }} In 2023, Wester became the school's all-time leading receiver. He finished the season with 108 receptions for 1,168 yards and eight touchdowns, being named to the First-team All-AAC, and being named the AAC special teams player of the year.{{Cite web |title=3 reasons why Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders wants FAU transfer LaJohntay Wester in Boulder |url=https://www.coloradoan.com/story/sports/2024/01/08/university-of-colorado-quarterback-shedeur-sanders-campaigns-for-fau-transfer-lajohntay-wester/72151756007/ |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=Fort Collins Coloradoan }}{{Cite web |date=2023-11-29 |title=LaJohntay Wester named American Athletic Conference special teams player of year |url=https://www.wptv.com/sports/college-sports/florida-atlantic-university/lajohntay-wester-named-american-athletic-conference-special-teams-player-of-year |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=WPTV News Channel 5 West Palm }} He was also named a First-team All-American as a punt returner.{{Cite web |last=Sportsdesk |first=B. V. M. |date=2023-12-11 |title=LaJohntay Wester: Named First-Team All-America, Sets Records at FAU |url=https://bvmsports.com/2023/12/11/lajohntay-wester-named-first-team-all-america-sets-records-at-fau/ |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=BVM Sports }} On December 15, 2023, Wester entered the transfer portal.{{Cite web |last=Greenberg |first=Maddox |title=FAU Football: LaJohntay Wester enters the transfer portal, potentially ending career at FAU |url=https://www.upressonline.com/2023/12/fau-football-lajohntay-wester-enters-the-transfer-portal-potentially-ending-career-at-fau/ |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=University Press}}
= Colorado =
On January 10, 2024, Wester announced that he would be transferring to the University of Colorado Boulder to play for the Colorado Buffaloes.{{Cite web |title=This Palmetto High and FAU star is transferring to play for Deion Sanders in Colorado |url=https://www.bradenton.com/sports/article284063383.html}}{{Cite web |date=2024-01-10 |title=LaJohntay Wester joining Deion Sanders at Colorado |url=https://www.wptv.com/sports/college-sports/florida-atlantic-university/lajohntay-wester-joining-deion-sanders-at-colorado |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=WPTV News Channel 5 West Palm }} On September 21, 2024, Wester caught a 43-yard Hail Mary pass from Shedeur Sanders as time expired, to force overtime against Baylor, a game in which the Buffaloes won 38-31.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-22 |title=LaJohntay Wester etches name in CU Buffs football history with Hail Mary from Shedeur Sanders: “There’s nothing like it.” |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2024/09/22/lajohntay-wester-shedeur-sanders-hail-mary-cu-buffs-baylor/ |access-date=2024-10-14 |website=The Denver Post |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2024-09-22 |title=Sanders connects with Wester on Hail Mary in regulation, Colorado beats Baylor 38-31 in overtime |url=https://apnews.com/article/baylor-colorado-deion-sanders-98fba794868800261a38cdaa70cafa49 |access-date=2024-10-14 |website=AP News |language=en}}
= Statistics =
{{See also|NCAA Division I FBS receiving leaders}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="2" |Season ! colspan="2" | Games ! colspan="4" |Receiving ! colspan="4" | Rushing ! colspan="4" |Punt Returns ! colspan="4" |Kick Returns | ||||||||||||||||||
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | TD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| colspan="20" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Florida Atlantic Owls|color=white}}" |Florida Atlantic Owls | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2020
| 9 || 1 || 17 || 114 || 6.7 || 1 || 8 || 34 || 4.3 || 0 || 10 || 89 || 8.9 || 0 || 12 || 260 || 21.7 || 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2021
| 12 || 9 || 65 || 702 || 10.8 || 4 || 5 || 29 || 5.8 || 0 || 19 || 129 || 6.8 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2022
| 12 || 11 || 62 || 719 || 11.6 || 8 || 15 || 106 || 7.1 || 1 || 14 || 136 || 9.7 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2023
| 12 || 12 || 108 || 1,168 || 10.8 || 8 || 8 || 44 || 5.5 || 1 || 14 || 278 || 19.9 || 1 || 2 || 30 || 15.0 || 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| colspan="20" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Colorado Buffaloes|color=white}}" |Colorado Buffaloes | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2024
| 13 || 12 || 74 || 931 || 12.6 || 10 || 1 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 9 || 108 || 12.0 || 1 || 1 || 14 || 14.0 || 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Career{{cite web |title=LaJohntay Wester College Stats|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/lajohntay-wester-1.html |access-date=January 12, 2024 |website=Sports-Reference.com}} | 58 | 45 | 326 | 3,634 | 11.1 | 31 | 37 | 213 | 5.8 | 2 | 66 | 740 | 11.2 | 2 | 15 | 304 | 20.3 | 0 |
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 9 5/8
| weight = 163
| dash = 4.46
| ten split = 1.53
| twenty split = 2.59
| shuttle = 4.50
| cone drill = 7.25
| vertical = 32.0
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 1
| arm span = 29 3/4
| hand span = 8 5/8
| note = All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/lajohntay-wester/32005745-5364-8867-8fe0-c66a8116df17 |title=LaJohntay Wester Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=March 1, 2025}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1052222&DraftYear=2025 |title=LaJohntay Wester College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=March 1, 2025}}
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://cubuffs.com/sports/football/roster/lajohntay-wester/16982 Colorado Buffaloes bio]
- [https://fausports.com/sports/football/roster/lajohntay-wester/14401 Florida Atlantic Owls bio]
{{Baltimore Ravens 2025 NFL draft picks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wester, LaJohntay}}
Category:Florida Atlantic Owls football players
Category:Sportspeople from Palmetto, Florida
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:Colorado Buffaloes football players
Category:Players of American football from Manatee County, Florida