The guy who wasn't good enough for the NFL. Our Slot Machine.

[MaPatsFan Intro: As you all know, I am a RIDICULOUS Wes Welker fanatic.  I have a massive man crush on the little guy and want to adopt him.  That and his many millions, but I digress.  SlotMachinePlayer and I share the same obsession.  SMP did a most excellent job of throwing together some cool factoids about "The Diminutive One", so here you are.]

Cool Wes Welker facts from his Patriots Bio: (Wide Receiver #83)

• Since joining the Patriots prior to the 2007 season, Welker leads the NFL with a total of 223 receptions (112 in 2007 and 111 in 2008).
• Welker owns the top two single-season reception totals in Patriots history, with 112 catches in 2007 and 111 in 2008.
• Welker joined Randy Moss in 2008 as the only players in Patriots history to have back-to-back seasons with 1,000 or more receiving yards. Welker had 1,175 in 2007 and 1,165 in 2008. His 2007 total ranks fourth in team history while his 2008 total ranks sixth.
• Welker set an NFL record by catching at least six passes in each of the first 11 games of the 2008 season. The previous record for most games with at least six receptions to begin a season was eight, achieved by Jacksonville's Jimmy Smith in 2001.
• Welker set an NFL record in 2007 by recording the most receptions by a player in his first season with a new team (rookie or veteran), totaling 112 catches.
• Welker caught 11 passes for 103 yards in Super Bowl XLII, tying the Super Bowl record for most receptions in a game. His 11 grabs equals the totals of Deion Branch (2004), Jerry Rice (1988) and Dan Ross (1981).
• In a game against the Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Oct. 10, 2004, a pregame injury to Dolphins kicker Olindo Mare pressed Welker into service as Miami's kicker. He converted both of his kicking opportunities (a field goal and an extra point) to become the first player in NFL history to record a punt return, a kickoff return, a field goal, an extra point a tackle and a kickoff in the same game. Welker earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his efforts.

College and High School after the jump.

Patriots quotes:

 Tom Brady, "Wes has killed us the last few years, with the Dolphins. It’s nice to have him in a Patriot uniform. He has great quickness. He’s very smart. He’s like a Labrador out there. You can throw the ball, he runs and fetches it, runs back, gets to the huddle and looks up and he’s panting with sweat coming down his face."

Randy Moss gets receiving tips from Wes Welker.

"Perfect place, the perfect situation for him," says veteran running back Kevin Faulk. "I told him when he first got here that he couldn't have come to an offense that was better for him, that fits his ability and what he does as a receiver."

Wes' College Bio: (Running Back #27)

• Welker was a four-year letterman at Texas Tech (2000-03) and appeared in a total of 50 games
• Finished his career with 259 receptions for 3,069 yards and 21 touchdowns (11.8 Yds Ave)
• 559 yards rushing and a touchdown on 79 attempts (7.1 Yds Ave)
• 152 punts returns for 1,761 yards, an 11.6-yard average, and eight touchdowns
• Left school as the NCAA career record-holder for punt return yards (1,761), as well as the single-season holder for returns (57 in 2002)
• Finished as the NCAA all-time leader for punt return touchdowns (8)
• Reception and receiving yardage totals both are school career records
• Was a three-time All-Big 12 Conference first-team choice (2000, 2002-03).
• Wes wasn't offered a scholarship by any college.  Only after another player turned down a scholarship was he awarded one by Texas Tech.
• Wes' College nickname: "The Natural" because he did everything.

Favorite Quote from this time:

"You go through the internal debate the whole time," Leach says. "Wow, he's just a little too small, ooh, he's a little too slow … oh, he plays both sides of the ball?"

Welker flew to Lubbock after signing day while Leland and Shelley followed by car. Something felt right, she'd say. Like Wes was meant to be there.

Within weeks after school started, the Tech coaches were calling Welker "The Natural."

"Everybody," Leach says, "seemed to feel like he could do anything."

...

"I remember when they brought him in, he was 5-7 and very unassuming," says former Red Raiders quarterback Kliff Kingsbury. "I thought he looked like a frat guy. We're offering this kid a scholarship? Definitely on looks, he didn't pass the test. But on the field, he was an unbelievable kid."

High School Highlights:  (Running Back, Kicker, Returner, Defensive Back)

• Selected as Oklahoma player of the year by USA Today, Daily Oklahoman, Gatorade, Pigskin Preview, Inside Oklahoma Sports and KXY/Dr. Pepper
• Named all-state by Oklahoma Coaches Association as a running back
• Named to Oklahoma Associated Press Super team as a defensive back
• Selected as Friday Newspaper defensive player of the year and player of the decade
• Rushed for 3,235 yards and 53 touchdowns on 495 career carries (6.5 Yds Ave)
• Caught 174 career passes for 2,551 yards and 27 touchdowns  (14.7 Yds Ave.)
• Returned 58 career punts for 1,261 yards and seven touchdowns 
• 41 career kickoffs for 342 yards
• Recorded 22 career interceptions for 342 yards (15.5 Yds Ave.) and three scores
• Had 391 career tackles, 118 as a senior
• Returned 10 career fumbles for 86 yards
• His longest field goal, 57 yards, actually exceeds the personal best of current Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski.

Favorite Quote from this time:

He'd vomit at least every other week during a game. Coach Rod Warner still has it on film. See Wes run 50 yards for a touchdown, charge back onto the field to kick the extra point, then turn and ask for a minute so he can throw up on the 10-yard line.

"It wasn't nerves," Warner says. "He just pushed his body so hard. The people in the stands would just start applauding. He gave it all every single drill, every sprint, every play."

 OK, now I'm being a homer.