Texas Tech University Athletics
Trio of Red Raiders Sign Free Agent Contracts
April 26, 2004 | Football
April 26, 2004
LUBBOCK, Texas - Three Texas Tech football players signed free agent contract with NFL teams, a day after two other Red Raiders were drafted in the 2004 NFL Draft. Center Toby Cecil and inside receivers Mickey Peters and Wes Welker bring the number to five players heading to training camps. Wide receiver Carlos Francis and quarterback B.J. Symons were both drafted Sunday.
Cecil inked a deal with the Carolina Panthers, while Peters and Welker are headed to Tennessee and San Diego, respectively.
Cecil finished his career at Tech as one of the most dominant centers in school history. He helped pave the way for two NCAA record-setting quarterbacks and led an offensive line that helped Tech earn two NCAA passing titles and one NCAA total offense title. Additionally, Cecil set the Texas Tech record for career starts and games played with 50. He ranked second among the country's active offensive linemen throughout the 2003 season in career starts.
During his four-year career at Tech, Peters set the career touchdown receptions record with 22 and amassed 2,318 receiving yards. Each of his last two seasons, Peters led the nation's tight ends in receptions and yards. His 12 touchdown receptions in 2003 tied the Tech single-season mark.
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.
