Texas Tech University Athletics
Welker One of 10 March of Dimes Honorees
January 09, 2004 | Football
Jan. 9, 2004
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech senior wide receiver/punt returner Wes Welker (Oklahoma City, Okla./Heritage Hall) will be presented one of 10 honoree awards at the March of Dimes Sports Headliner Awards Banquet in Oklahoma City. The event is scheduled for Sun., Feb. 15, at 6 p.m. at the Marriott Hotel (Northwest Expressway).
Joining Welker on the honoree list are University of Oklahoma football team members, Derek Strait, Teddy Lehman and Mark Clayton; Rashaun Woods of Oklahoma State; and Florida Marlins pitcher Brad Penny. Team awards will be presented to the Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Tulsa football teams and two-time defending NCAA wrestling champion Oklahoma State.
Welker dominated the NCAA punt return records during his career at Texas Tech. He set the Career Punt Return Yardage record with 1,761 over the last four seasons and established a new mark in Most Career Punt Returns for Touchdowns (8). Welker also owns the single-season record for Punt Returns (57) and Punt Return Yards (752), both coming in 2002.
On the receiving end, Welker set the Texas Tech record for career receptions with 257 and is the only player in school history to log two 1,000-yard seasons. His receiving yardage total of 3,069 is tops on the career yardage list.
Oklahoma quarterback Jason White will be presented the Oklahoma Sports Headliner of the Year award and Tulsa head coach Steve Kragthorpe will receive the Oklahoma Headliner Special Award.
